Yesterday, president Ashraf Ghani declared a unilateral temporary ceasefire against the Taliban. The ceasefire does not extend to the war against the Islamic State in Afghanistan.
Here is Krishnadev Calamur, in the Atlantic, on the matter:
It's been rare, over the past 17 years of conflict in Afghanistan, to see any particularly bold movements toward peace. So Ashraf Ghani's announcement Thursday that he would observe a weeklong ceasefire with the Taliban was a dramatic departure from the pattern, even if only for a week.
‘An Opportunity for the Taliban’, Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic
Today, the Taliban declared a temporary ceasefire against the Afghan government. The ceasefire does not extend to the war against foreign forces in Afghanistan.
Here is Mujib Mashal, in the New York Times:
In a move that could inject life into a long-struggling Afghan peace process, the Taliban announced Saturday that they would halt operations against Afghan forces for the three days of the Muslim festival Eid al-Fitr.
Their announcement came days after the Afghan government declared a unilateral eight-day cease-fire, and for the first time it promised Afghan civilians, who have borne the brunt of the 17-year conflict, a temporary reduction in violence, which has only been getting worse in recent years.
The Taliban announcement came after another bloody night in Afghanistan. More than 50, and possibly as many as 70, members of the Afghan security forces and pro-government militias were killed overnight in three provinces, government officials said Saturday.
A strong push is underway to restart a lackluster peace process, which has repeatedly broken down. It is underpinned both by the heavy daily toll of the long war on ordinary Afghans and President Trump’s limited patience with the costly American involvement here.
“Members of the Taliban should not participate in public gatherings during the Eid festivities because the enemy could target us,” they [the Taliban] said in a statement.
The presidential palace welcomed the announcement and said it hoped it can lead to lasting peace. Omar Zakhilwal, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to neighboring Pakistan, described the announcement as an “important step towards prospects for peace”.
“Hope the pleasure of shedding no Afghan blood in Eid becomes so overwhelming that rest of year is also declared as Afghan Eid,” he said on Twitter.
“I hope this ceasefire will turn into a process and as a professional army we await the president and the Afghan leadership’s order. But this ceasefire is extendable, and it depends on the authority and will of the Taliban and it depends on whether Taliban will be able to make a decision on war and peace in Afghanistan independently,” he [deputy defense minister Tamim Asey] said.
A senior American analyst meanwhile said he is optimistic about the ceasefire decision by the two sides.
“Obviously it is very important, and it is very welcomed. Anything that ends bloodshed is very welcomed. As far as I can remember, 40 years of fighting since the so-called Saur Revolution, it is the first time that a ceasefire has been agreed by various parties to the conflict,” said Barnett Rubin, senior expert on Afghanistan and South Asia.
Meanwhile, some MPs called on the Taliban to end the war and accept the peace offer.
Afghan Govt Welcomes Taliban Ceasefire, Tolo News