Afghan Taliban declare ceasefire in quake-hit areas

Pakistani assistance for earthquake victims reaches Kabul

ISLAMABAD: The Afghan Taliban announced on Friday a ceasefire in areas badly affected by this week's powerful earthquake. The 7.5 magnitude earthquake jolted most parts of Afghanistan and northern Pakistan on October 26.

According to Afghan Presidential Palace, 115 people were killed and 538 injured in the earthquake. A total of 7,630 houses, 12 schools, 17 mosques and 20 office buildings also got damaged in nine provinces.



"Yes we have stopped operations in areas struck by the earthquake and where relief activities are underway," the Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said. "But if the enemy launch any attack, we will only defend ourselves," the spokesperson told The Express Tribune response to a queery sent via Viber.

The Afghan government has not commented on the Taliban announcement.

Meanwhile a Pakistani C-130 aircraft, carrying humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan, arrived in Kabul on Friday, the Pakistani embassy in Kabul said.



The consignment, mainly containing wheat flour, was handed over to the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority official Muhammad Aslam Sayas by Pakistan's Ambassador to Afghanistan, Syed Abrar Hussain, at Kabul Airport.

The consignment was sent on the special instructions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for the people of Afghanistan. Besides, Pakistan will also send one hundred thousand tons of wheat for Afghan people.

"The Afghan authorities appreciated Pakistan's assistance," a  Pakistan embassy statement said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2015.