Afghanistan's President has announced a temporary ceasefire with the Taliban during Muslim festival Eid al-Fitr later this month. In a video message Thursday, Ashraf Ghani said that all Afghan security forces would be instructed to stop offensive operations on Afghan insurgents between June 12 and June 21, the period this year in which Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
"ISIS, Al Qaida and other international terrorist networks are excluded from this ceasefire," Ghani said, adding that details of the ceasefire would be made public next week.
"This 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," Ghani added on Twitter.
The Taliban has not yet commented.
The decision came after a group of Islamic clerics from across the country met this week and recommended a ceasefire, according to Reuters.
But not all members of Ghani's government are on board. "From a military prospect, it is not a good move," former army general Atiqullah Amarkhel told Reuters. "It will give the enemy the opportunity to prepare itself for more attacks."
He also said he doubted that the Taliban would adhere to the ceasefire.
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