Taliban Refuses To Extend Afghanistan Ceasefire, Kills 18 In Attack

Taliban militants stand with residents during the ceasefire. AFP

The Taliban refused to extend their ceasefire beyond Sunday night, dampening hopes for peace after jubilant scenes over the Eid holidays in Afghanistan.

The announcement came after a suicide attack in the restive eastern part of the country on Sunday killed at least 18 people in a crowd celebrating the Muslim holiday, the second assault in as many days to mar the unprecedented ceasefire.

Kabul extended its ceasefire with the Taliban by 10 days but said security forces would defend themselves if attacked, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani tweeted.

The Afghan leader also requested the militant group halt hostilities but the Taliban said fighting would resume.

“The ceasefire ends tonight and our operations will begin, inshallah (God willing). We have no intention to extend the ceasefire,” Zabihullah Mujahid, the group’s spokesman, told AFP in a WhatsApp message.

He made no reference to Ghani’s announcement.

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