Taliban, Ghani call for 3-day cease fire for Eid hoiday

ISLAMABAD — The Taliban and Afghanistan’s president announced late Saturday a three-day cease-fire ahead of a major Islamic holiday that begins Sunday to mark the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

The Taliban order, which was soon followed by an announcement via Twitter from Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announcing the government “extends the offer of peace,” comes days after U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad was in Kabul and Doha.

The Taliban’s cease-fire announcement follows an Eid al-Fitr message from the Taliban leader which said the insurgent group was committed to the peace deal.

The directive ordered Taliban fighters not to fight but also not to fraternize with Afghan national security forces.