Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Afghan govt reaches truce with local Taliban

KABUL: Afghan government today struck a local truce with Taliban insurgents and announced a ceasefire in a small part of Northwestern
Afghanistan's Badghis Province ahead of the crucial Presidential polls.

The deal reached with the intervention of tribal elders after nearly three weeks of talks is a first time for Afghanistan, where insurgent attacks have soared and thousands more troops have poured in to secure the August 20 polls.

"Since Saturday a ceasefire has been established in Bala Murghab district of Badghis province through the efforts and mediation of elders and influential people of the province," a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said.

Karzai is the leading candidate at the presidential election in just over three weeks time, although his campaign has been criticised as lacklustre and a spike in Taliban attacks have raised concerns that insecurity may mar the vote.

Karzai's spokesman, Siamak Herawi, said negotiations lasted 20 days and resulted in both sides signing a ceasefire document Saturday that saw the militants pull out of three areas of the troubled district.

"This is a model that other provinces and areas are also trying to use," he claimed.

The deal puts local leaders in charge and would allow authorities to set up election offices and for candidates on the presidential and provincial council ballots to begin campaigning, he said.

No comments:

Post a Comment