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Afghanistan's Ashraf Ghani on Saturday at the presidential palace in Kabul. President Ashraf Ghani said on Saturday that he was putting an end to a unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban after insurgents killed dozens of Afghan forces across the country last week. "The ceasefire is over," he told reporters at the presidential palace, saying he was ordering Afghan security and defense forces to resume their operations for the first time since he had announced an unprecedented unilateral truce with the Taliban. June
But the president said the door to negotiations would remain open, and he asked the Taliban to join a peace process. Until now, the militant group has refused to argue with the Kabul government, denigrating it as a "puppet" regime and demanding direct negotiations with the United States. 17, the president said that the three-day truce had been "98% successful" and that the government was ready to extend it whenever "the Taliban would be ready".
The brief truce, which coincided with the three days The end of the year holidays marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan were strictly observed by both parties during the civil conflict which lasted 17 years and have were marked by a wave of emotional celebration among civilians, Afghan forces and the Taliban.
The unexpected success of the ceasefire, where thousands of Taliban fighters flooded the cities and mingled with each other, raised hopes among Afghans and foreign officials supporting the government. Ghani. Some form of talks after several months of refusal to do so.
The truce also spurred an incipient peace movement among Afghans, who organized marches, rallies and vigils calling for an end to the violence. More than 100 peacekeepers traveled several hundred kilometers from Helmand province to Kabul during the truce.
Ghani immediately proposed to extend the initial ceasefire, but the Taliban refused and did not say anything publicly. – On the contrary, actively intensify attacks in many provinces. According to Afghan media, insurgents have intensified their attacks on police and army posts, killing nearly 100 soldiers and police officers
The government truce did not extend to the Islamic State. groups operating in Afghanistan. During the ceasefire, the Islamic State claimed to have perpetrated two separate deadly attacks against Taliban rallies, civilians and Afghan forces celebrating in the eastern province of Nangahar.
A spokesman for the Defense Ministry said Saturday that the extension of the government truce had ended at midnight and that military operations were being launched in 10 provinces.
"We will continue our offensive against the elements that threaten our people," he said.
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