MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th August, 2018) The Taliban on Sunday promised to release hundreds of Afghan prisoners, but did not respond to Kabul's unilateral declaration of ceasefire, local media reported, citing the movements statement.
Earlier in the day, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban, which would begin on Monday and last until November 19. However, the president stressed that the ceasefire would be established only if the movement agreed to cease hostilities.
The Taliban militants said that they would release the prisoners so that "they can share the happiness of Eid [Eid-al-Adha, an Islamic holiday, Festival of Sacrifice], with their families and friends," according to the TOLOnews broadcaster.
On June 7, Ghani declared a unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban from June 11 to June 19 to mark Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. On June 17, the Afghan president prolonged the ceasefire for another 10 days. The radical movement ceased hostilities for three days of the Eid truce but rejected the government's request to prolong the ceasefire.
Afghanistan's government forces have long been fighting Taliban insurgency, as well as the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, outlawed in Russia), with the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces conducting joint counterterrorist operations across the country.
