President Ghani informs of progress in ongoing peace efforts

Speaking to a gathering of people in Nangarhar province, President Ghani said developments have been made in peace sector as he expressed hopes regarding the return of a lasting peace in the country.
He did not disclose further information in this regard but emphasized that one of his main duties is to ensure the end of war in Afghanistan.
President Ghani once again reiterated the government’s stance regarding the ceasefire and said he is prepared for further ceasefire with the Taliban group.
This comes as the Taliban group has so far refrained to respond positively to the ongoing peace efforts despite the Afghan government extended the ceasefire originally declared from 27^th of Ramadan to 5^th day of Eid.
In the meantime, President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Saturday said the nation demands peace and an end to the conflict and the government has positively responded to the demands, emphasizing it is the time that the Taliban should also respond positively.
Announcing the end of the extended ceasefire with the Taliban, President Ghani said the Taliban group is facing the nation, religious scholars of the country as well as Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Imams and the clerics of the Islamic world.
He said such pressures existed on the government as well which have been sidelined responsibly and the time has come that the Taliban should also prove their responsibility and decide on how they are going to face the pressures.
President Ghani once again called on Taliban to reconcile as he emphasized that the existing pressures are domestic and have no links with the outside.