# Why the Taliban Should Accept Afghanistan’s Ceasefire Offer 

A second ceasefire right now is in every major stakeholder’s interest — even the Taliban’s. 

August 22, 2018 • Commentary 

By [Sahar Khan](https://www.cato.org/people/sahar-khan) 

This article appeared in the *[Axios](https://www.axios.com)* on August 22, 2018. 

After a particularly violent summer, Afghanistan’s president, Ashraf Ghani, [proposed a three-month ceasefire](https://twitter.com/ashrafghani/status/1031180819828822016) with the Taliban this past Sunday, to begin on Monday. It follows a [first ceasefire](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44423032) implemented during Eid al-Fitr, in June, which saw both Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents [refrain from attacks](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-ceasefire/afghan-taliban-raise-hopes-with-surprise-eid-ceasefire-idUSKCN1J5050).

A second ceasefire right now is in every major stakeholder’s interest — even the Taliban’s.

**The big picture:** The Taliban have not [officially accepted or rejected](https://www.npr.org/2018/08/20/640157968/taliban-answers-afghanistans-cease-fire-offer-with-ambush-abductions) Ghani’s offer. But if the Taliban want [its demands](https://www.voanews.com/a/afghan-taliban-open-letter-to-american-people-calls-for-dialogue/4254075.html) — which include a U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan and direct talks with the U.S. — met, the group needs to increase its legitimacy. Accepting Ghani’s ceasefire is a low-cost opportunity to do so.

The Taliban are militarily strong and have continued to challenge the Afghan government in recent months, as evidenced by the attacks in [Farah](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/15/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-farah-.html), [Ghazni](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/13/world/asia/why-the-talibans-assault-on-ghazni-matters-for-afghanistan-and-the-us.html), and [Kunduz](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/180402182156971.html). But as the war in Afghanistan enters its 18th year, a [consensus has emerged among all stakeholders](https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-offers-host-talks-taliban-afghanistan/29127849.html) — the U.S., the Afghan government, Afghanistan’s neighboring countries and the Taliban themselves — that the ongoing war in Afghanistan can’t end without a political solution. For example, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells [met with Taliban officials](https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-envoy-taliban-officials-meet-to-discuss-afghan-peace-talks-1532547118) in Qatar last month to restart peace talks, and continues [to urge Pakistan to persuade the Taliban to negotiate](https://www.geo.tv/latest/208212-us-welcomes-pm-imrans-statement-on-afghanistan-alice-wells).

The Taliban of course can simply reject the ceasefire and continue attacks on Afghan security forces. But in accepting Ghani’s offer, the group would show a serious interest in a political solution. It would also distinguish itself from other violent militant groups operating in Afghanistan, such as ISIS, which [launched rockets](https://www.tolonews.com/afghanistan/afghans-celebrate-eid-relative-peace-except-%C2%A0kabul) on Kabul residents celebrating Eid on Tuesday.

**The bottom line:** A second ceasefire right now is in every major stakeholder’s interest — even the Taliban’s.And while it would in all likelihood be insufficient to create legitimate and lasting avenues for political reconciliation, it is an essential step toward peace in Afghanistan.

##### About the Author 

[![Media Name: khan-cropped.jpg](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/authors/crops/khan-cropped.jpg?itok=ZEbN5p0Y)](/people/sahar-khan) 

##### [Sahar Khan](/people/sahar-khan)

Former Research Fellow, Cato Institute

[ 

](https://www.twitter.com/khansahar1)