UNITED NATIONS, June 9 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday welcomed the Taliban's announcement of a three-day partial ceasefire during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, urging all parties concerned "to seize this opportunity and embrace an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process."
This follows the recent announcement by the Afghan government that it would begin a seven-day ceasefire on June 12, the 27th day of Ramadan, and run to Eid-ul-Fitr, an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
"The secretary-general strongly believes that there is no military solution to this conflict and that only a political settlement can bring an end to the suffering in Afghanistan," Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
On behalf of the secretary-general, Dujarric reiterated the UN's commitment to "supporting the people and Government of Afghanistan in this important endeavor."
