8 Subh; Kabul: The United States has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire on Eid al-Fitr and called for its extension. Zalmai Khalilzad, the US special envoy for Afghanistan, said the Afghan people deserved a permanent ceasefire and a political agreement to end the war.
US State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a news conference on Monday, May 10, that her country welcomes any action that would free the Afghan people from violence.
She also called on the Taliban to extend the ceasefire and order a significant reduction in violence.
Price said the return to violence was “meaningless and sad” and that the Taliban should know that a return to violence has no legitimacy.
On the other hand, Zalmai Khalilzad tweeted that Afghanistan has been facing horrific violence in recent weeks at the expense of the people.
He added that Afghans deserve a political agreement to end the war and a permanent ceasefire.
Zalmai Khalilzad stressed that for this reason, insisting on quick intra-Afghan talks to reach a political settlement and end this war is meaningless.
According to him, reaching a political agreement to end the war and a permanent ceasefire is the will of the Afghan people and the United States stands by the people.
The Taliban announced a ceasefire on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr which was also accepted by the Afghan government. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has ordered security forces to observe a ceasefire during Eid.
