President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Saturday announced the extension of the period of ceasefire with the Taliban group until an unspecified time.

In his televised speech to the nation, President Ghani said the decision has been taken in consideration with the available consensus on government level as well as the Taliban ranks and on international community level.
He said Afghans want peace and pointed towards the Eid prayers offered jointly by the Taliban and government personnel as a good example of the available consensus for peace.
President Ghani further added that the environment was completely changed during Eid prayers in the mosques across the country, including Logar, Kandahar, Faryab, Kunduz, Zabul, Maidan Shahr, Nangarhar, and Laghman, with the Ulemas focusing and emphasizing on the value, importance, and the need of peace from the perspective of Islam.
He thanked the religious scholars for fulfilling their historic, religious, and national duties in a good manner.
President Ghani said considering the aforementioned reasons and resolute demands of the people, he is instructing to the security forces to adhere to an extended ceasefire.
Without disclosing further information regarding the extended period of ceasefire, President Ghani said the details would be shared with the nation very soon.