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Taliban refuses ceasefire call storing it for ‘Intra-Afghan talks’
In response to the ceasefire call, the Taliban responds that it will be discussed in the Intra-Afghan peace talks.
Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban political office spokesman, in an interview with a Syrian media, warns that if five thousand prisoners of the group are not released, the next option is war.
The presidential palace, in a press release, said that at the last meeting of the National Security Council it had been underlined that the prisoner release should continue based on the government’s policy.
The statement, however, expresses doubts about the prisoner release from the Taliban’s end.
President Ghani said, “I call on the Taliban to give a positive response to the legitimate demand of the United Nations, regional countries and the Afghan people, stop the war and reduce violence.”
However, Suhail Shaheen, the spokesperson of the Taliban political office in Qatar, has told a news agency that the ceasefire has been included in the agenda of the Intra-Afghan talks. Shaheen has added that if the 5,000 prisoners of the Taliban are not released, the war will continue.
Shaheen said, “If they want to resolve the situation in a political way, this is the right way. The other way is the military approach which they have chosen for the last 18 to 19 years unsuccessfully.”
This comes as Roland Cobia, the EU special representative in Afghanistan, has welcomed the prisoner releases saying that it would be much better with the violence reduction.
He underscored that the prisoner releases will be more acceptable with reducing violence adding that the “Intra-Afghan talks should be started before the entire release of prisoners.”
So far, some 361 Taliban prisoners have been released by the government and some 20 government prisoners by the Taliban.
Yet both the laterals have questions about the released prisoners; thus the release process has been paused.
At the 95th Standing Committee of UNHCR, the European Union and its Member States called for urgent de-escalation of tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, stressing the need for dialogue and respect for international law.
In a statement, the EU urged all sides to avoid further escalation, ensure the protection of civilians, and uphold territorial integrity. It also reiterated that Afghan soil should not be used to threaten or attack other countries, calling on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to take effective action against militant groups operating within or from the country.
The bloc further expressed concern over the broader humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, highlighting restrictions that continue to affect the work of international organizations and humanitarian partners.
A key issue raised was the return of more than four million Afghans from Iran and Pakistan over the past two years, which the EU said has placed additional strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile economy and public services. It voiced particular concern over forced deportations and emphasized the importance of respecting the right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement.
A group of religious scholars from Afghanistan and Pakistan have called on authorities in both countries to extend the pause in hostilities, initially announced for Eid ul-Fitr, until Eid ul-Adha.
The appeal comes after Attaullah Tarar, Pakistan’s Information Minister, announced a temporary ceasefire from March 18–19 midnight until March 23–24 midnight.
In a joint statement signed by 11 Pakistani clerics and as many Afghan clerics, the scholars emphasized that their initiative aims to promote a sustainable and dignified resolution to tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, Dawn newspaper reported.
The clerics urged both Pakistani authorities and the Afghan side to extend the ceasefire to allow pilgrims to perform Hajj in a peaceful environment. They added that this “peace movement” goes beyond the ceasefire appeal and includes broader diplomatic and social efforts to resolve longstanding issues between the two countries.
The scholars expressed hope that their efforts would lead to a mutually acceptable solution and help lay the foundation for lasting stability and regional harmony.
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