This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44513657
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Taliban rules out extension of Afghanistan Eid festival ceasefire | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A widely welcomed three-day ceasefire between security forces and the Taliban in Afghanistan appears to be over. | |
The Taliban said its militants had been ordered to take up arms again on Sunday night - now the Eid festival had ended. | |
The government says it will continue a unilateral ceasefire for another 10 days, although security forces can defend themselves if attacked. | |
There were unprecedented scenes of soldiers and Taliban insurgents hugging each other during the ceasefire. | |
But the ceasefire failed to end violence entirely. | |
At least 18 people were killed in a suicide attack in the city of Jalalabad, outside the office of the governor of Nangarhar province while officials were meeting Taliban insurgents. Dozens were injured. | |
No group said it carried out the attack. | |
On Saturday a suicide bombing 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. |
In a statement, the Taliban said it had called the ceasefire to enable ordinary Afghans to enjoy a peaceful Eid, "not in response to the ceasefire of the Kabul regime". | |
The group hailed the success of the ceasefire as a sign of its cohesion, and reasserted its determination to seek the "withdrawal of foreign invaders and establishment of an Islamic government". | |
President Ashraf Ghani's plea on Saturday for the Taliban to prolong its truce has been rejected. | |
His office said on Sunday that the government's extended truce would still allow Afghan security forces to "defend themselves against any attack". | |
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 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. |