Afghan truce, a breakthrough

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi welcomed the three-day Eid ceasefire in Afghanistan, calling it “a major breakthrough,” and said the decision to announce a truce in Afghanistan was not an easy decision and that Islamabad played a key role in the announcement.

“It’s a major success, I am very satisfied. There are contributions in the process (ceasefire) from various friends, there has been a key role in this by Pakistan about the decision for a ceasefire in Afghanistan. This was not an easy decision,” said Qureshi during a presser in Islamabad.

He said that with the completion of the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners, the conditions will be good for the intra-Afghan talks.

Meanwhile, the Afghan Ministry of Defense has said that the Taliban has violated the ceasefire in at least six provinces of the country over the past 24 hours and that Afghan forces have sustained some casualties as a result of Taliban attacks and roadside mine explosions.

“There have been reports of ambushes on our military convoys, attacks on our checkpoints, and roadside bombs targeting our forces, and we also suffered some casualties,” said Rohullah Ahmadzai, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

Afghan citizens meanwhile called on the warring sides to extend the ceasefire.

“So far no destructive activities have been reported from the opponent side, we hope that this ceasefire is extended,” said Dadullah Qani, a member of Farah provincial council.

“From the hour the ceasefire was announced by the Taliban, fortunately there has been no war in Badakhshan and no attack was reported from the two sides,” said Abdullah Naji Nazari, a member of the Badakhshan provincial council.

“How long will this bloodshed continue?” asked Mohammad Afzal, a resident in Kabul.

“We want a long-term ceasefire from the government and the opposing side,” said Manila, a resident in Kabul.