Afghans took selfies with the militants in Kabul
Christian Science Monitor editorial: Clues of peace in Afghanistan
A declared cease-fire by each side, a peace march, and other steps hint that both the Taliban and the government are reacting to a new public mood for a political settlement.
After decades of conflict and costly foreign intervention, Afghanistan has a new chance for peace. Both the government and the Taliban have declared unilateral cease-fires to mark the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The temporary halt in fighting is only for three days, June 15-18. Yet if it holds, it will be the most extensive halt to offensive operations since the United States invaded the country in 2001 in response to the 9/11 bombings by Al Qaeda.
Any path to peace remains difficult. But even a brief cease-fire may signal momentum toward a negotiated solution. Crucial to any prospects for peace will be a dialogue between the militant Islamic Taliban and the elected president, Ashraf Ghani, and his team about issues of governance and power sharing.
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WNU Editor: The Long War Journal has been covering the Afghan war for years, they have a different opinion .... Analysis: A misbegotten ‘ceasefire’ in Afghanistan (Long War Journal).
