Ghani Offers Conditional Second Cease-Fire With Increasingly Emboldened Taliban by J.P. Lawrence - Stars & Stripes
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani sent out a series of Tweets on Sunday, offering a cease-fire between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban insurgents who have stepped up attacks across the country in recent weeks.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday announced a three-month-long cease-fire with the Taliban beginning Monday – but only if the Taliban reciprocate.
“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,” Ghani said via a tweet.
The announcement came on Afghan Independence Day amid a wave of violence across Afghanistan and follows a previous cease-fire in June.
In response to Ghani’s last cease-fire offer in June, the Taliban reciprocated with their own, which led to scenes of government soldiers and militants hugging and taking selfies in celebration…