Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

ANDSF Will Honor Plan but Maintain Readiness: Andarabi

ANDSF Will Honor Plan but Maintain Readiness: Andarabi

KABUL - The Afghan acting Minister of Interior Massoud Andarabi on Friday said that the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) are on "red alert" for the reduction in violence plan, which is expected to be implemented at midnight today.
“The country’s security and defense forces are on red alert. All necessary guidelines have been issued to them (ANDSF) about honoring the reduction in violence period across Afghanistan. At the same time, there are full preparations to defend the Afghan people including the civilians and Afghanistan’s territory. In case the Taliban do not abide by their commitments during this period, the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces will act resolutely,” said Andarabi.
He said that the Afghan security forces will halt all military operations simultaneously with the implementation of the reduction in violence plan.
Andarabi meanwhile pledged responsive action if the Taliban failed to respect the the reduction in violence plan.
“If the Taliban do not abide by their commitments during this period (reduction in violence period), the Afghan security forces and the Resolute Support forces in Afghanistan will retaliate against the Taliban,” Andarabi told TOLOnews on Friday.
Andarabi said the ANDSF will not violate the reduction in violence plan.
This comes after The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement on Friday said the deal between the United States and the Taliban – about which the two sides have agreed after more than 10 rounds of talks led by chief negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad – will be signed on February 29.
Sources familiar with the matter have said that under the seven-day reduction in violence, the Taliban attacks will be reduced significantly: the group will not launch attacks in cities, highways or against US bases or the headquarters of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF). These terms, however, have yet to be confirmed. (TOLO NEWS)