Kabul warns Taliban of launching attack if violence does not stop within a week

After Taliban anunced resumption of its ‘operations’ against Afghan forces, Afghanistan’s Minister of Defence said that y would start attacking militant group if it doesn’t stop attacks within a week. Taliban ended partial truce with Afghan government last week but has continued holding back attacks on international troops.

Defence Minister Asullah Khalid said in a statement that Afghan forces will remain in defence mode until end of this week because of peace agreement. But Khalid warned that Afghan troops will “target enemy everywhere” if Taliban do t stop attacks by end of week.

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Taliban ended partial truce following ‘reduction in violence’ pact that led to signing of peace deal with United States in Doha. Days after peace deal was signed between United States and Taliban, latter demanded release of prisoners which Afghan President Ashraf Ghani refused. Ghani said that prisoner swap could be included in nda of intra-Afghan talks but “cant be prerequisite for talks”.

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' commitment'

Afghan President's statement came against backdrop of struggles faced by American negotiators in steering Kabul ministration and Taliban towards peace talks. After countless meetings, Ghani said that partial truce will continue with goal of reaching a full ceasefire but declined to release Taliban prisoners citing “right and self-will” of Afghan citizens.

“re is commitment to releasing 5,000 prisoners. This is right and self-will of people of Afghanistan. It could be included in nda of intra-Afghan talks, but cant be a prerequisite for talks,” said Ghani.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said that  Taliban could “possibly” overrun US-backed Afghanistan government after foreign troops withdraw from country as a part of deal. At a White House press conference on March 6, Trump was asked if Taliban could eventually seize power from Afghan government, President said that “it is t supposed to happen that way but it possibly will.”

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(With inputs from ncies)