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US Urges Afghans to Set Disputes Aside to Combat Virus

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - The United States has again demanded that Afghanistan's
   feuding leaders and the Taliban insurgency set internal disputes aside
   and cease armed violence to focus on combating the coronavirus
   pandemic.

   American peace envoy to the country, Zalmay Khalilzad, made the call
   Sunday through a series of tweets to wish Afghans a happy Muslim
   fasting month of Ramadan.

   "The well-being of the Afghan people and the country itself depend on
   all parties devoting their full energies to the fight against the
   COVID-19 pandemic, the shared enemy of all," Khalilzad emphasized.

     To all those who celebrate, Ramadan Kareem, Ramadan Mubarak, Happy
     Ramadan!
     The opportunity to reflect and think of others in these
     unprecedented times is a blessing.
     -- U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace)
     [1]April 26, 2020

   At least 50 people have died out of 1,500 people who contracted the
   coronavirus in Afghanistan and the number of infections continues to
   spread in a country where decades of war has left an already
   underdeveloped public health system in shambles.

   Khalilzad said that Ramadan, which began on Friday, offered Afghan
   President Ashraf Ghani and his political rival, Abdullah Abdullah "the
   opportunity to put the interest of the country ahead of their own."
   Both the rival leaders claim to have won the September 28 presidential
   election and held competing inauguration ceremonies last month. The
   political crisis paralyzed national governance just when a U.S.
   negotiated peace-building agreement with the Taliban had raised hopes
   for finding a negotiated end to years of hostilities in Afghanistan.
   "Similarly, Ramadan offers the Taliban an opportunity to embrace a
   humanitarian ceasefire to reduce violence and suspend offensive
   military operations until the health crisis is over," Khalilzad
   stressed.

     Similarly, Ramadan offers the Taliban an opportunity to embrace a
     humanitarian ceasefire to reduce violence and suspend offensive
     military operations until the health crisis is over.
     -- U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad (@US4AfghanPeace)
     [2]April 26, 2020

   But the Islamist insurgent group in a statement Sunday again rejected
   domestic and international calls for reducing violence or declaring a
   ceasefire during Ramadan.

   Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid insisted the implementation of its
   February 29th U.S. troop withdrawal agreement with Washington was the
   "sole path" toward ending their nearly 19-year-old war and establishing
   peace in Afghanistan.

References

   1. https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1254250219933519876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
   2. https://twitter.com/US4AfghanPeace/status/1254250223746105344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

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