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Taliban rule out extension of Afghanistan Eid festival ceasefire | Taliban rule out extension of Afghanistan Eid festival ceasefire |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Afghan Taliban have rejected calls to extend a three-day ceasefire declared for the Muslim Eid festival. | The Afghan Taliban have rejected calls to extend a three-day ceasefire declared for the Muslim Eid festival. |
A spokesman said the truce would end on Sunday night and operations against the security forces would resume. | A spokesman said the truce would end on Sunday night and operations against the security forces would resume. |
Government officials urged the militants not to return to fighting, as dozens of unarmed Taliban exchanged Eid greetings with soldiers and civilians. | |
Meanwhile, at least 18 people were killed in a suicide attack in the city of Jalalabad, officials said. | |
The blast happened outside the office of the governor of Nangarhar province while officials were meeting Taliban insurgents as part of the ceasefire. Dozens were injured. | The blast happened outside the office of the governor of Nangarhar province while officials were meeting Taliban insurgents as part of the ceasefire. Dozens were injured. |
On Saturday a suicide attack in the same province, also on a gathering of Taliban and local officials, left 36 people dead. The Islamic State group said it carried out that attack. | On Saturday a suicide attack in the same province, also on a gathering of Taliban and local officials, left 36 people dead. The Islamic State group said it carried out that attack. |
What have the Taliban said? | What have the Taliban said? |
The militants said there would be no extension to the ceasefire and fighters would be expected to leave government-controlled areas before sunset. | The militants said there would be no extension to the ceasefire and fighters would be expected to leave government-controlled areas before sunset. |
"The ceasefire ends tonight and our operations will begin, God willing. We have no intention to extend the ceasefire," said spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. | "The ceasefire ends tonight and our operations will begin, God willing. We have no intention to extend the ceasefire," said spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. |
He made no reference to an announcement by President Ashraf Ghani extending a unilateral ceasefire by the government and urging the Taliban to do the same. | He made no reference to an announcement by President Ashraf Ghani extending a unilateral ceasefire by the government and urging the Taliban to do the same. |
What happened over the holiday? | What happened over the holiday? |
In extraordinary scenes during Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Saturday, militants embraced security force members and took selfies with citizens. | In extraordinary scenes during Eid al-Fitr, the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan on Saturday, militants embraced security force members and took selfies with citizens. |
Both sides had declared a three-day truce for the occasion. | Both sides had declared a three-day truce for the occasion. |
In his announcement on Saturday, President Ghani appealed to the militants to follow the government's lead and enter peace talks. | In his announcement on Saturday, President Ghani appealed to the militants to follow the government's lead and enter peace talks. |
During the ceasefire, Taliban militants were able to receive medical and humanitarian assistance and Taliban prisoners could see their families, he added. | During the ceasefire, Taliban militants were able to receive medical and humanitarian assistance and Taliban prisoners could see their families, he added. |
The government also released some Taliban prisoners, he said. | The government also released some Taliban prisoners, he said. |
How did the ceasefire come about? | How did the ceasefire come about? |
The Taliban announced the three-day halt to hostilities earlier this month, days after a unilateral ceasefire lasting until Wednesday was ordered by the government. | The Taliban announced the three-day halt to hostilities earlier this month, days after a unilateral ceasefire lasting until Wednesday was ordered by the government. |
It is the Taliban's first ceasefire since the government they ran was toppled by the 2001 US-led invasion. | It is the Taliban's first ceasefire since the government they ran was toppled by the 2001 US-led invasion. |
"It was the most peaceful Eid. For the first time we felt safe. It is hard to describe the joy," said Qais Liwal, a student in Zabul in southern Afghanistan. | "It was the most peaceful Eid. For the first time we felt safe. It is hard to describe the joy," said Qais Liwal, a student in Zabul in southern Afghanistan. |
In February Mr Ghani offered peace talks "without preconditions" and recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political group if they respected the rule of law. | In February Mr Ghani offered peace talks "without preconditions" and recognition of the Taliban as a legitimate political group if they respected the rule of law. |
Tens of thousands of Afghans have been killed since the US-led invasion drove the Taliban from power in 2001. | Tens of thousands of Afghans have been killed since the US-led invasion drove the Taliban from power in 2001. |