Taliban to resume attacks against government forces

Taliban are likely to resume attacks against government forces after the US signed a peace agreement with the US.

Taliban had experienced a “reduction in violence” in a week before the deal was signed.

Taliban’s spokesperson urged that further negotiations will not be held if the government will not release 5,000 Taliban prisoners.

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani informed the local news that his government had agreed to no release formed part of the agreement.

Ashraf Ghani said, “There is no commitment to releasing 5,000 prisoners,” “This is the right and the self-will of the people of Afghanistan. It could be included in the agenda of the intra-Afghan talks, but cannot be a prerequisite for talks.”

Taliban informed that they would not stop fighting forces, but they would not attack international troops.

He said that the partial peace was set to continue “with a goal to reach a full ceasefire”.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated to the international news agency that they will not be ready for further negotiations unless the release of prisoners.

He said, “We are fully ready for the intra-Afghan talks, but we are waiting for the release of our 5,000 prisoners,”
“If our 5,000 prisoners – 100 or 200 more or less does not matter – do not get released there will be no intra-Afghan talks.”

General Scott Miller, the US forces commander in Afghanistan, said that the decrease in violence “was a confidence builder”.

He said, “We’re very serious about our obligations and we expect the Taliban will be serious about their obligations.
“The United States has been very clear about our expectations – the violence must remain low.”