| So much for that lovely idea, but I don’t imagine anyone is surprised. |
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Lion of Islam group’s leadership has reportedly rejected the call by the government for a ceasefire during Eid al-Adha, due to kick off from tomrrow across Afghanistan.
Two Taliban Überstürmbannführers, privy of the development, have told Rooters that their supreme leader rejected President Ashraf Ghani
...former chancellor of Kabul University, now president of Afghanistan. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. ..’s Sunday offer of a three-month ceasefire, beginning with this week’s Eid al-Adha Moslem holiday.
"Our leadership feels that they’ll prolong their stay in Afghanistan if we announced a ceasefire now," a senior Taliban Überstürmbannführer, who declined to be identified, told Rooters.
President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on Sunday announced a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban group during Eid Ald-Adha.
| Al Ahram adds: |
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, said by telephone the Taliban would release at least 500 prisoners, including members of the security forces on Monday, a day before Eid celebrations begin.
"We will release some prisoners captured during festivities in three provinces," he said.
But he did not say if any soldiers or coppers taken from the three buses would be released.
Sporadic festivities between Taliban fighters and Afghan forces erupted on the outskirts of Ghazni on Monday as aid workers tried to get help in to the city, aid agency officials said.
The government has said its forces had secured the city after the Taliban laid siege to it for five days this month.
At least 150 soldiers and 95 non-combatants were killed and hundreds were maimed.
Aid agencies officials said their teams had entered the city but festivities in the outskirts prevented them from launching large-scale operations.