Afghan security forces are to resume operations as an unprecedented Eid holiday ceasefire with the Taliban comes to an end. President Ashraf Ghani noted that the landmark truce had proven that the militants are tired of war. Ghani officially announced the end of the ceasefire on Saturday morning, saying that “the nation has shown they are ready for reconciliation,” as cited by TOLOnews channel. The president stated that many Taliban fighters now want peace and that the group is tired of war. READ MORE: Heavy clashes in W. Afghanistan city as major Taliban offensive kicks off (VIDEO) The Afghan leader, who has long been pushing for peace with the Taliban, once again called on the Islamic fundamentalist militants to join the peace process in the conflict-ravaged country. He said that the government wanted to convert the Taliban from a militant group into a political one. Read more The militants made a surprising statement earlier in June, saying that they would … [Read more...] about Afghan forces to resume operations as historic ceasefire with Taliban ends
Afghan
Afghan president orders troops to resume operations against Taliban
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared a formal end to his government’s ceasefire with the Taliban on Saturday but called on the insurgents to agree to full peace talks following a three-day truce during this month’s Eid holiday, Reuters reports. “It is now the Taliban’s decision, whether they want to keep killing or join the peace process,” Ghani told a news conference in Kabul where he repeated an appeal for comprehensive peace talks. Ghani had ordered government forces to suspend offensive operations for 10 days after the Eid truce on June 15-17, which saw unarmed Taliban fighters mingling with soldiers, police and civilians on the streets of Kabul and elsewhere. Saturday’s announcement means that Afghan security forces, which have adopted a largely defensive posture since Eid, can resume their normal operations against the Taliban as well as Islamic State fighters with whom there was no ceasefire. The Eid ceasefire conjured hopes of an end to … [Read more...] about Afghan president orders troops to resume operations against Taliban
Afghan forces resume offensive operations after govt ceasefire ends
Afghan security forces resumed offensive operations on Saturday after President Ashraf Ghani declared an end to the government's unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban. Ghani said the ceasefire, which lasted 18 days after it was extended once and overlapped with the Taliban's unilateral three-day truce for Eid, had been "98 percent successful". "The ceasefire is over. The Afghan security and defence forces are allowed to restart their military operations," Ghani told reporters. The three days of no fighting were unprecedented in the nearly 17-year conflict and triggered jubilant scenes across the war-weary country. Taliban fighters and security forces spontaneously celebrated the holiday that caps the holy month of Ramadan, hugging each other and taking selfies. The militants were also mobbed by relieved civilians, who have borne the brunt of the war, raising hopes of a renewed push for peace talks. Ghani said the ceasefire had shown that the majority of the insurgents wanted peace … [Read more...] about Afghan forces resume offensive operations after govt ceasefire ends
16 Afghan border police killed in Taliban ambush
World Bulletin / News Desk The Taliban rebels killed at least 16 members of the Afghan police on the last day of the government’s unilateral 18-day cease-fire, officials confirmed on Thursday. According to Sunnat Temor, spokesman for the governor of Takhar province, the rebels attacked check posts of the Afghan police in Chah Aab district’s Nau Abad area last evening, killing 16 personnel and injuring two others. The area is situated next to the Amu River [Oxus River] on the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Temor said that six police personnel are still missing and the rebels have also confiscated arms and ammunition from the security forces. In a statement, the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, claimed to have killed 13 men in the attack. Wednesday was the last day of an extended cease-fire announced by the Afghan government two weeks ago in hope to revive the stalled peace process. Meanwhile, Gen. Abdul Raziq, the powerful chief of police in restive … [Read more...] about 16 Afghan border police killed in Taliban ambush
16 Afghan security forces die in attacks
At least 16 security force members have been killed in Taliban attacks on border checkpoints in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province.Two others were also wounded in the overnight militant attack, which took place in the province's Cha-e-Ab district, the deputy of Takhar's provincial council, Salahuddin Burhani, told dpa.Dozens of Taliban militants attacked at least three checkpoints in the district, both officials said.Taliban militants have an active presence in at least six districts of Takhar province.Just during the last week, more than 60 members of the Afghan security forces have been killed amid mounting Taliban attacks across Afghanistan. … [Read more...] about 16 Afghan security forces die in attacks