The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the US embassay in Kabul have both commended the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban for honoring the ceasefires. 

“UNAMA welcomes the announcement made today by President Ghani to extend the ceasefire with the Taliban beyond Eid-ul-Fitr,” UNAMA’s statement said. 

It said that UNAMA has noted and been impressed by the outpouring of support for the ceasefires and peace on the part of the Afghan people. UNAMA also said it highly appreciates the decision of Ghani responding to the overwhelming voice of the people of Afghanistan to extend the ceasefire. UNAMA calls upon the Taliban to respond positively to the desire and yearning of the Afghan people for an end to the conflict.

“The Government’s extension of the ceasefire provides a clear opportunity for initiating a negotiated solution to the conflict,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA. “This opportunity cannot be missed.”

“I have repeatedly stated that a negotiated settlement to the conflict is possible. Now I believe it can be imminent. I call for concrete steps to initiate direct talks between the Afghan Government and the Taliban to put an end to the suffering of the Afghan people. The Afghan Government’s peace offer, which has been supported by the international community, enables every issue to be discussed. I call upon and encourage all countries concerned, including those in the region, to support this new opening for peace,” said Yamamoto.

The United Nations continues to stand with all Afghans in solidarity, and contribute, working closely with the broader international community, to an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process that will end the war.

In the meantime, the US embassy said in a statement that the United States extends its best wishes to the people of Afghanistan in celebration of Eid al-Fitr. “We welcome the ceasefire during the period of Eid.  The Afghan people this year are spending the Eid holidays with their families with renewed hope of peace.”

“We support President Ghani’s offer to extend the ceasefire and begin peace talks.  As President Ghani emphasized in his statement to the Afghan people, peace talks by necessity would include a discussion of the role of international actors and forces.  The United States is prepared to support, facilitate, and participate in these discussions,” it said.

“All of Afghanistan’s people benefit from the end of bloodshed, and we have seen the overwhelmingly positive reaction from Afghans across society.  We have seen pictures of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan soldiers and police with Taliban fighters offering prayers for Eid side by side.  If Afghans can pray together, their leaders can talk together and resolve their differences, according to the statement.

The statement also said that : “Agreeing to begin peace talks is an expression of determination to create a unified Afghanistan in which all its citizens can live in peace and dignity.  The United States stands ready to work with the Afghan government, the Taliban, and all the people of Afghanistan to reach a peace agreement and political settlement that brings a permanent end to this war.”

This coms after Ghani said in an address to the nation on Saturday evening that the temporary ceasefire between government and Taliban has been warmly welcomed by the people and that he has ordered the security forces to extend the ceasefire.  

Ghani said the current ceasefire will be extended from the fourth day of Eid. He however did not give any further details. 

“I ordered the security and defense forces to extend the ceasefire from the fourth day of Eid-al-Fitr. The details about the extended ceasefire will soon be shared with the people. But I order the forces across the country to be ready for any attack to defend the country and the people,” said Ghani. 

The president said he has read Friday’s security report and all parts of the country were peaceful.