US, UN welcome Afghan's ceasefire extension

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the US embassay in Kabul have praised the Afghanistan government for extending its ceasefire.

"UNAMA welcomes the announcement made today by President Ghani to extend the ceasefire with the Taliban beyond Eid-ul-Fitr," Tolo News quoted UNAMA's statement.

UNAMA also appreciated President Ashraf Ghani's decision for responding to the voices of the Afghans to extend the ceasefire.

UNAMA urged the Taliban to respond positively to the desire of the Afghan people to end the conflict.

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

The US also said it will work with the Afghan government and the Taliban to reach a peace agreement and political settlement.

The Taliban on June 9 announced a three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday, two days after the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced the ceasefire from the 27th of Ramzan (June 12) to the fifth day of Eid-ul-Fitr (June 19).

It is the first time the Taliban has agreed to a ceasefire for Eid since the US invasion in 2001.

(ANI)