UNITED NATIONS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Monday welcomed the Afghan government's announcement last week on a temporary cease-fire with the Taliban for the end of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
The Security Council members also welcomed the subsequent announcement by the Taliban of a three-day partial cease-fire, urging them to reciprocate the government's temporary cease-fire in full, said the Security Council in a press statement.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their call upon the Taliban to accept the offer made by the Afghan government in February 2018 to engage in direct peace talks without any preconditions and without the threat of violence, with the aim of an ultimate political settlement that leads to sustainable peace for the people of Afghanistan, said the statement.
The members of the Security Council reiterated the importance of an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for the long-term prosperity and stability of Afghanistan, and expressed their full support for the Afghan government's efforts to that end.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday also welcomed the Taliban's announcement of a three-day partial cease-fire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday. He urged all parties concerned "to seize this opportunity and embrace an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process."
