United States (US) Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad welcomed the Taliban and Afghan government's decision to observe a ceasefire during Eid-ul-Fitr, as “This is a momentous opportunity that should not be missed. The US will do its part to help”, reports Tolo News. Khalilzad said that other steps--like the release of the remaining prisoners--should follow immediately, and that neither side should return to high levels of violence, and an agreement on a new date for the start of intra-Afghan negotiations should be set.