Afghan grand council convened by President Ghani ends with call for peace with the Taliban, offer of cease-fire.
Delegates attend the last day of the Afghan Loya Jirga meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan, Friday, May 3, 2019. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's grand council ends with a call for peace talks, urges both sides to hammer out a cease fire and protect rights gained in the last 17 years. Ghani offers cease fire, says he will free 175 Taliban prisoners ahead of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan grand council convened by President Ashraf Ghani has ended with a resounding call for peace with the Taliban. The council — known as Loya Jirga — had brought together more than 3,200 participants, politicians, tribal elders, many prominent figures and others to hammer out a shared strategy for future negotiations.
Ghani said at the closing ceremony on Friday that the message of the five-day gathering in Kabul is clear: “Afghans want peace.”He also promised to free 175 Taliban prisoners ahead of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset that starts next week.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Afghan president inaugurates newly-elected parliamentPresident Ashraf Ghani has inaugurated the country's new parliament after almost six months since elections were held and following long delays, claims of voter fraud, unresolved disputes, and political bickering.
Read more »
Afghan president opens grand assembly in bid to gain initiative in Taliban talksThousands of Afghans congregated in Kabul on Monday for a rare consultative meet...
Read more »
Afghan president holds council to set agenda for Taliban talksThe four-day consultative grand assembly, known as a 'loya jirga', is an attempt by President Ashraf Ghani to influence peace talks between the United States and the Taliban, which the militants have excluded his government from.
Read more »
Kabul peace discussion among 3,200 delegates opens under a political cloudSome critics are boycotting the event, calling it a political stunt by the Afghan president.
Read more »
Afghan peace deal hinges on ceasefire by Taliban: U.S. peace envoyAny peace agreement with the Afghan Taliban would depend on the declaration of a...
Read more »
Afghan women seek to ensure rights not lost in peace talksHERAT, Afghanistan (AP) — For four hours, Khadeja begged her in-laws to take her to the hospital. The skin on her face and neck was peeling. The pain was excruciating. Her husband had thrown a pot...
Read more »
Afghan women demand seat at peace talks but face resistanceHERAT, Afghanistan (AP) — For four hours, Khadeja begged her in-laws to take her to the hospital. The skin on her face and neck was peeling. The pain was excruciating. Her husband had thrown a pot...
Read more »
Afghan Leader Hosts Peace-Plan AssemblyAfghan President Ashraf Ghani convened a rare assembly of prominent Afghans to hammer out an approach to peace talks with the Taliban, the latest attempt by the U.S.-backed government to insert itself into the peace process.
Read more »
U.S., Taliban resume talks as Afghan government seeks role in peace processAmerican and Taliban officials resumed talks in Qatar to end a 17-year war in Af...
Read more »
Afghan leader holds council to set agenda for Taliban talksKABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Afghanistan's president opened a grand council on Monday of more than 3,200 prominent Afghans seeking to agree on a common approach to peace talks with the Taliban, but...
Read more »
Afghan women fear gains could be bargained away in talksHERAT, Afghanistan (AP) — For four hours, Khadeja begged her in-laws to take her to the hospital. The skin on her face and neck was peeling. The pain was excruciating. Her husband had thrown a pot...
Read more »