Press release

Foreign Secretary welcomes extension of Afghan government ceasefire

Foreign Secretary statement on announcement of an extension to the Afghan government’s ceasefire with the Taliban.

• From: Foreign & Commonwealth Office and The Rt Hon Boris Johnson
• Published: 16 June 2018

This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government

The Foreign Secretary lends his support to President Ghani’s announcement of an extension to the Afghan government’s ceasefire with the Taliban and calls on the Taliban to support peace.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said:

I welcome President Ghani’s announcement that the nationwide government ceasefire with the Taliban will be extended beyond Eid al-Fitr. This shows that the Afghan government is listening to its people, who overwhelmingly support peace.

I hope that the Taliban will respect the wishes of the Afghan people and respond in kind.

The UK strongly supports steps towards peace in Afghanistan, including President Ghani’s unprecedented offer of talks without preconditions in February.

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Published 16 June 2018