Can the Afghan cease-fire pave the way for peace?
The Government of Afghanistan on June 7 offered a unilateral, week-long cease-fire to the Taliban beginning June 12, in observance of the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Of course, a cease-fire is not a peace agreement, but it can lead to one.
![U.S. Marines with Task Force Southwest man a rooftop at 2nd Brigade, Afghan National Army 215th Corps’ headquarters on Camp Nolay, Afghanistan, April 24, 2018. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Sean J. Berry)](/sites/default/files/styles/image_with_caption/public/2018-06/20180613-dvids-marines-sangin-ac.jpg?itok=VqA6uJ_p)
A successful cease-fire is first a humanitarian win because lives are saved during the lull in fighting. For this cease-fire — the first major cease-fire since the war began in 2001 — to become a political win, the parties should develop next steps on a path to negotiate their grievances rather than fight each other.