Taliban ends partial truce as Afghan violence resumes

‘The reduction in violence... has ended and our operations will continue as normal’

KABUL: A deadly blast shattered a period of relative calm in Afghanistan on Monday and the Taliban ordered fighters to resume operations against Afghan forces just two days after signing a deal with Washington aimed at ushering in peace.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack at a football ground in Khost in eastern Afghanistan, where three brothers were killed, officials told the reporter.

The blast occurred around the same time the Taliban ordered fighters to recommence attacks against Afghan army and police forces, apparently ending an official "reduction in violence" that had seen a dramatic drop in bloodshed and given Afghans a welcome taste of peace.

The partial truce between the US, the insurgents and Afghan forces lasted for the week running up to the signing of the Us-taliban accord in Doha on Saturday, and was extended over the weekend.

"The reduction in violence... has ended now and our operations will continue as normal," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told the reporter.

"As per the (Us-taliban) agreement, our mujahideen will not attack foreign forces but our operations will continue against the Kabul administration forces."

The Taliban's military commission circulated instructions for fighters to resume operations, according to a document that an insurgent provided to the reporter.

Soon after, an Afghan army commander told AFP that the Taliban were attacking army positions in the northwest province of Badghis. At least one soldier was killed.

President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday said he would continue the partial truce at least until talks between Afghan officials and the Taliban kick off, supposedly on March 10, though he angered the militants by rejecting a prisoner swap component in the deal.

Fawad Aman, a defence ministry spokesman, said Monday the government was "checking to see if (the truce) had ended".

Washington has said it expected the Taliban to maintain the reduction of violence ahead of the launch of intraafghan talks, slated to take place in Oslo.

"The reduction in violence was a confidence builder. We're very serious about our obligations and we expect the Taliban will be serious about their obligations," US Forces-afghanistan commander General Scott Miller said late Monday.

"The United States has been very clear about our expectations -- the violence must remain low." The US has previously said it would defend Afghan partners if they come under attack.

The Doha deal includes a commitment to swap 5,000 Taliban prisoners held by the Afghan government in return for 1,000 captives, but Ghani said the US had no authority to negotiate such an exchange.

"Ghani's stand shows that the Americans hadn't done the groundwork before signing the agreement," a Taliban source in Pakistan said.

Analyst Michael Kugelman from the Wilson Centre thinktank said he was not surprised the Taliban were on the offensive again.

"Remember, violence is

leverage for the Taliban. It won't easily give it up," he tweeted.

"And now it's exploiting that

leverage to strengthen its bargaining position going into the intra-afghan dialogue, when (and if) it begins." According to Khost police chief Sayed Ahmad Babazai, the blast at the football match killed three people and wounded 11 others.

"A motorcycle rigged with a bomb exploded," Babazai said.

Abdul Fatah Wakman, president of the Khost Football Federation, said the three people killed were brothers.

Since the deal signing, the Taliban have been publicly claiming "victory" over the US.