Statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini on the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire in Afghanistan

Today, the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani announced a unilateral temporary ceasefire with the Taliban until the end of Eid al-Fitr, from June 12- 19. This announcement is another concrete and unprecedented step made by President Ghani, reinforcing the unconditional peace offer he already made on 28 February. It shows his commitment to a genuinely Afghan-led and -owned peace process.

The European Union fully supports this initiative of the President, which should be taken up by the Taliban. As we have said consistently, from the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, to the Kabul Process meetings, to the Tashkent Conference, the European Union is ready to fully accompany a peace process with all of our tools. Peace takes the courage of dialogue, engagement, of compromise and reconciliation. The moment for this courage is now, in order to build a better future for all Afghans.