Afghan Taliban won’t extend Aidilfitri ceasefire
KABUL: The Taliban yesterday said it would not extend the three-day ceasefire with Afghan security forces and that fighting would resume, dashing hopes for the recent peace to continue.
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 (Sunday) and our operations will begin, inshAllah. We have no intention to extend the ceasefire,” Mujahid said, making no reference to Ghani’s announcement.
The first formal, nationwide ceasefire since the 2001 US invasion was met with jubilation across the country as Afghans — Taliban, security forces and civilians — celebrated Aidilfitri.
Taliban fighters and security forces embraced and took selfies with each other over the first two days of the Muslim holiday.
Civilians flocked to greet militants, who had left their posts or areas under their control to celebrate the halt in hostilities, which fuelled hopes among warweary Afghans that peace was possible.
The extraordinary festivities were marred by a suicide attack in the eastern province of Nangarhar on Saturday that was claimed by the Islamic State group’s franchise in Afghanistan. IS was not part of the ceasefire.
The death toll from the blast reached 36, with another 65 wounded, a health official said yesterday, after some people with critical injuries died overnight.
Ghani’s extension of the government’s eight-day ceasefire, which was due to expire tomorrow night, drew immediate international support and calls for the Taliban to follow suit.
The Taliban agreed to a truce, but only for the first three days of Aidilfitri, promising not to attack soldiers or police, but they would continue attacking Nato troops.
With the ceasefire due to end last night, fighting will likely to resume today.