On Tuesday, the Taliban declared a three-day ceasefire to observe Eid-ul-Adha peacefully, a change from the continuous violence seen over the recent weeks.
The Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabiullah Mujahid, tweeted, “In order for our people to spend three days of Eid in confidence and happiness, all fighters are instructed not to carry out any operations”.
Although Mujahid also threatened retaliation if the Afghan government carried out any attacks on the Taliban.
Ashraf Gani, Afghanistan’s President, welcomed this step in hope of truce and some negotiation with the Taliban after the release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners under the US-Taliban agreement in February.
Spokesperson of the Afghan government, Sediq Sediqqi issued a statement of welcoming the Taliban’s move. Sediqqi stated that people of Afghanistan want peace to prevail, a long-lasting ceasefire, and negotiating talks to begin.
This is so far the 3rd truce and only respite in Afghanistan’s conflict since the 2001 war started. The first ceasefire was in June 2018 and the second was in May this year to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadhan.
According to a UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) report, over 1,280 civilians in Afghanistan have been killed in the first half of 2020 due to the continuous clashes between Afghan government forces and the Taliban.