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Afghan Taliban declare ceasefire in quake-hit areas

Pakistani assistance for earthquake victims reaches Kabul

Tahir Khan October 31, 2015

PHOTO: AFP

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.

Taliban urge rescuers "not to hold back" in Afghan quake relief effort

"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.

Dozens dead in northeast Afghanistan

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.

COMMENTS (3)

Afghan | 9 years ago | Reply Afghanistan will fight until its last drop of blood. Submission isnt in the Afghan vocabulary. We are hardened and used to war. In the meantime Pakistan is left with continued instability and no economic or military progress in comparison with India. We will not forgive and we will not forget. We are Afghan not Indians. You need to realize the indefinite damage you are doing to the impression Afghans have of you. Even if Taliban came to power which is an impossibility they would still eventually fail because they cannot govern. Their presense in itself would continue to harm Pakistans economic viability. We have nothing to lose while you're already way behind the curve with India. Keep up ypur hostilities at your own peril.

S.R.H. Hashmi | 9 years ago | Reply The statement by Afghan Taliban that they have stopped operations in earthquake affected areas where relief work is going on could in a way mean that they are only interested in spreading death and destruction, and if they find that enough damage has already done by the earthquake, they do not need to waste their resources attacking these. If Afghan Taliban really loved their country and people, they would stop their operations even in regions not affected by the earthquake. After all, their operations only kill their own, Afghan people, and these killings only harden the feelings and make a peaceful solution even more difficult. And if far larger numbers of foreign troops could not eliminate Taliban, what real difference these remaining under 20,000 soldiers could make, who are to stay here for another couple of years? So, why make a big issue out of it and insist on departure of all foreign troops before peace negotiations with Afghan government could be commenced? Afghanistan has been in a state of war for some decades now and the country is in shambles. It is definitely time to get over the bitter past and bring peace to the country, which is an essential pre-requisite for prosperity. The country has abundant mineral wealth, and the next-door China could help Afghanistan in the exploitation of these resources, but this requires peaceful conditions to make that possible. Afghan Taliban should immediately stop all violence and enter into peace negotiations with the Afghan government. The going would be difficult but with a bit of patience and goodwill on both sides, no problem could prove insurmountable and peace could be attained. So, why continue this needless violence when better options are available? Karachi

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