Afghan people, officials call for permanent ceasefire

In Afghanistan, the public and officials have called for a lasting ceasefire in the wake of the government and the Taliban’s commitment to observe a three-day truce for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, starting Friday.

Fawzia Koofi, a member of the government’s negotiating team, said on Twitter Wednesday that she was “hoping for a lasting and permanent ceasefire.”

Sediq Sediqqi, the main spokesman for the Afghan president, said, “The people of Afghanistan demand a lasting ceasefire and the start of direct talks between the Taliban and the government of Afghanistan.”

Ahmad Jawed Ahmady, a civil engineer, hoped for “peace forever.”

Ali, a shopkeeper in Kabul who only gave one name, said three days was not enough. “We want peace forever. We have the right to live in peace like other countries, we want our country to develop. We are all – old and young – tired of this war.”

On Tuesday, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a statement declared the three-day ceasefire. But any attack by “the enemy” would be met with force and retaliation, he said.

Kabul greeted the announcement with a note of caution.

The Taliban announced the militants were putting down weapons for the Eid after President Ashraf Ghani signaled progress in a contentious prisoner exchange.