KABUL, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government has announced an eight-day ceasefire with Taliban insurgent group during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr, the second annual largest religious festival, the state-run RTA TV reported on Thursday.
"The government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announces ceasefire from the 27 of Ramadan (fasting month) until the fifth day of Eid-ul-Fitr following the historic ruling Fatwa (religious decree) of the Afghan Ulema," Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said in a televised message broadcasted by RTA TV.
The 27 of Ramadan falls on June 12 and the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr will probably fall on Friday June 15, depending on the sighting of the moon.
On Monday, more than 2,000 Afghan religious scholars issued a Fatwa or religious decree after a meeting in Kabul, calling on the government and the Taliban to observe a ceasefire and pave the way for peace talks.
The Afghan president also said that recent Fatwa by Afghan Ulema or religious scholars "declared that violence and suicide attacks were not only against Islam but also strictly forbidden in our religion."
The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces will only stop offensive operations during the ceasefire against Afghan armed Taliban, but will continue to target Daesh or Islamic State and other foreign backed terrorist organizations and their affiliates, the Afghan leader noted.
"The ceasefire is an opportunity for Taliban to introspect that their violent campaign is not wining them hearts and minds but further alienating the Afghan people from their cause," said the president in his message.
The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments on the ceasefire offer.
