<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has declared a provisional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban, to mark the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, but said the truce will hold only if the insurgents reciprocate. In a televised broadcast yesterday following a recent surge in conflict, Mr Ghani said, he once again announces a ceasefire from today until the prophet's birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate. The Prophet Mohammed's birthday will be celebrated on November 21 in Afghanistan.</span></div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></div>''<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mr Ghani said his administration removed all obstacles to peace with the announcement following consultations with religious scholars, political parties and civil society groups. The president's announcement was welcomed by NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. In a tweet, he sought to encourage the Taliban to demonstrate their concern for Afghans by respecting it.</span></div>''<div class="yj6qo" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"></div>