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Taliban rule out extension of Afghanistan Eid festival ceasefire Taliban rules 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. A widely welcomed three-day ceasefire between security forces and the Taliban in Afghanistan appears to be over.
A spokesman said the truce would end on Sunday night and operations against the security forces would resume. The Taliban said its militants had been ordered to take up arms again on Sunday night - now the Eid festival had ended.
Government officials urged the militants not to return to fighting, as dozens of unarmed Taliban exchanged Eid greetings with soldiers and civilians. The government says it will continue a unilateral ceasefire for another 10 days, although security forces can defend themselves if attacked.
Meanwhile, at least 18 people were killed in a suicide attack in the city of Jalalabad, officials said. There were unprecedented scenes of soldiers and Taliban insurgents hugging each other during the ceasefire.
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. But the ceasefire failed to end violence entirely.
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. 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.
"The ceasefire ends tonight and our operations will begin, God willing. We have no intention to extend the ceasefire," said spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. 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 Taliban said their ceasefire had been to enable ordinary Afghans to enjoy a peaceful Eid, and not to please the government. 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".
Zabihullah Mujahid made no direct reference to an announcement by President Ashraf Ghani to extend a unilateral ceasefire by the government and urging the Taliban to do the same. 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 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 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.