Afghan President ends unilateral truce amid growing Taliban attacks



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President Ashraf Ghani said Saturday that he was putting an end to a unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban, after insurgent attacks had killed dozens of Afghan forces last week

"The Cease -the-fire is finished. He said he was ordering Afghan defense and security forces to resume their operations for the first time since the announcement of an unprecedented unilateral truce with the Taliban in early June.

But the president said that the door of negotiations would remain open. 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 the three-day truce had been "98 percent 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-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 were marked by a wave of emotional celebration among civilians, Afghan forces and Taliban fighters. The ceasefire, in which thousands of Taliban fighters flooded towns and villages and mingled cordially with others, generated widespread hopes among Afghans and foreign officials supporting the Ghani government that Taliban Taliban announce first cease-fire with Afghan forces since war begins "class =" trb_em_ic_img "title =" Taliban announce first cease-fire With Afghan forces since the beginning of the war war "data-c-nd =" 2048×1710 "/>

The truce also spurred an incipient peace movement among Afghans, who organized marches, rallies and vigils calling for an end to the violence. 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 have not said 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 carried out two separate deadly attacks against Taliban, civilian and Afghan forces rallies in Nangahar province

a spokesman for the ministry said. of the defense. at midnight and military operations were launched in 10 provinces

"We will continue our offensive against the elements that pose a threat to our people," he said. [ad_2]
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