Pakistan welcomed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's ceasefire announcement on Eid-ul-Azha and reiterated its support to efforts aimed at achieving durable stability and lasting peace in the war-torn neighbouring country. "Pakistan welcomes the Afghan government's declaration of a ceasefire during the upcoming festival of Eid-ul-Azha.
Pakistan fully supports all such efforts that contribute to achieving durable stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan", said Foreign Office spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal, adding that the people of Afghanistan deserve it. Coinciding with the Independence Day of Afghanistan, he said that the announcement has an even greater significance. "Pakistan considers Eid-ul-Azha as an appropriate occasion for all parties to make a commitment to ceasefire along the lines of a much appreciated ceasefire in Afghanistan", he asserted.
"We also call upon all parties that in defence to the holy tradition of sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha to implement a ceasefire in hostilities - preferably for a more extended period of time", the spokesperson said, adding that this would allow the people of Afghanistan to celebrate the great Abrahamic tradition in comfort and peace, during this holy month of Zil Hajj. Such steps we expect will create an environment of enduring peace and stability, he added.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday announced the twitter the declaration of the ceasefire to be effective from Monday (today). "As we approach Eid-ul-Azha, and to respect the wishes of different segments of Afghan society including religious scholars, political parties, politicians, women and civil society leaders, youth and members of high peace council in all 34 provinces and to respect the wishes of the religious scholars of the Islamic world that were gathered in the holy mosques and to respect the wishes of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and the custodians of the two-holy mosques, the King of Saudi Arabia, we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from today, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the prophet (PBUH) i.e, Milad-un-Nabi, provided that the Taliban reciprocate", President Ghani said.
"We call on the leadership of the Taliban to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace, and we urge them to get ready for peace-talks based on Islamic values and principles. The Afghan government has removed all obstacles for a long lasting peace through these unprecedented steps", he added. Earlier, the Taliban responded positively to the Afghan President's ceasefire declaration on Eid-ul-Azha after which members of the Taliban were seen celebrating the Eid with Afghan security forces on the streets of many Afghan cities.