17 June 2018•Update: 18 June 2018
By Shadi Khan Saif
KABUL, Afghanistan
A suicide attack in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province claimed at least ten lives on Sunday amid cease-fire in the war-ravaged country, an official said.
Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Anadolu Agency the suicide attacker blew his explosives in the Pashtunistan Square, close to the national broadcaster, RTA, in downtown Jalalabad, the provincial capital, in the afternoon, killing 10 people.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
On Saturday, at least 36 people were killed in Daesh-claimed suicide attack in Rodaat district of the province that crushed the spirit of goodwill and hope for peace in the country that was observing its second day of cease-fire between the government and the Taliban.
That attack targeted a meeting of the Afghan Taliban and local government officials in connection with the Eid cease-fire.
Sunday was the third day of cease-fire declared by the Taliban and the sixth day of the cease-fire announced by the government. The three-day truce by the armed rebels would come to an end Monday, while President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has hinted to extend the ceasefire.
“We have also requested the Afghan Taliban to extend their cease-fire. During the cease-fire, we will provide medical assistance to the wounded Taliban, and will provide them any humanitarian assistance if needed. Taliban prisoners will also be allowed to contact and see their families,” the president said.
Meanwhile, the local Azadi Radio has quoted the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed saying the group would resume its annual spring offensives, al-Khandaq, from tomorrow onward.
However, the group has directed its fighters to avoid public meetings such as the one targeted by Daesh in Rodaat.
This came as the High Peace Council (HPC), top government body tasked with reaching peace deal with the Taliban, urged the Taliban to extend the truce.
Karim Khalili, chairman of the HPC, told journalists in Kabul that officials of the body has had video conferences with the Taliban leaders over the matter.
The western-backers of the Kabul government, including the UN have also urged upon the warring sides in Afghanistan to put an end to the bloodshed.
“The Government’s extension of the ceasefire provides a clear opportunity for initiating a negotiated solution to the conflict,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN secretary general’s special representative for Afghanistan.
“The Afghan Government’s peace offer, which has been supported by the international community, enables every issue to be discussed. I call upon and encourage all countries concerned, including those in the region, to support this new opening for peace,” Yamamoto said.
