14 die as bomber targets Afghans celebrating truce

Militants head into Afghan cities unimpeded, raising fears of what will happen once ceasefire ends

KABUL : A suicide bomber struck in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad on Sunday, killing at least 14 people in the second attack in as many days targeting Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians celebrating a holiday ceasefire. No one has claimed the attacks, but they appear to be the work of the IS.

KABUL: The Taliban on Sunday said they would not extend their three-day ceasefire with Afghan security forces and fighting would resume, dashing hopes for the recent peace to continue.

The comments by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid come after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced on Saturday a government truce with the militants would be extended. He asked the group to reciprocate.

“The ceasefire ends tonight and our operations will begin, inshallah. We have no intention to extend the ceasefire,” Mujahid told AFP in a WhatsApp message.

Mujahid made no reference to Ghani’s announcement.

The first formal, nationwide ceasefire since the 2001 US invasion had been met with jubilation across the country as Afghans — Taliban, security forces and civilians — celebrated Eid, the holiday that caps the fasting month of Ramzan.

Taliban fighters and security forces embraced and took selfies with each other over the first two days of the Muslim holiday.

Civilians also flocked to greet the militants, who had left their posts or areas under their control to celebrate the halt in hostilities, which had fuelled hopes among war-weary Afghans that peace was possible.

But some Taliban commanders also told AFP they disapproved of their fighters visiting government-controlled areas and celebrating with security forces.

Ghani’s extension of the government’s eight-day ceasefire, which had been due to expire Tuesday night, drew immediate international support and calls for the Taliban to follow suit.

The Taliban had agreed to a truce but only for the first three days of Eid, which started Friday, promising not to attack Afghan soldiers or police. They would, however, continue attacking US-led Nato troops.

Militants headed into cities across Afghanistan on Sunday as they continued to celebrate, raising questions about what happens when the ceasefire ends at midnight.

Ghani had committed “a grave mistake” by allowing Taliban fighters to enter governmentcontrolled areas, said Amarullah Saleh, a politician and a former head of the National Directorate of Security.

“We don’t have mechanisms in place to mitigate the breach of ceasefire by the Taliban,” Saleh told Reuters.

Members of parliament opposing Ghani’s move said he had not consulted politicians and would be left with no recourse if the Taliban rejected his impromptu request.

A senior western diplomat in Kabul said Ghani’s decision was “a bold move” but questioned what happens if the Taliban do not extend their unprecedented halt in hostilities against government forces.

“The consequences could be disastrous,” he said.