Taliban declares three-day ceasefire for Eid celebration

Taliban group has announced a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan during Eid al-Fitr, the group said on Monday.

“Mujahideen have been instructed to stop all kinds of offensive operations across the country from the first to the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr,” Mohammad Naeem, the group spokesman said.

Insurgent fighters have been instructed to break the cease-fire only for self-defense and not to visit enemy areas or host Afghan security forces during the three-day Eid celebrations.  

“The Mujahideen must not visit enemy areas nor permit entrance of enemy personnel into Mujahideen controlled areas,” Naeem tweeted.

 The Taliban have previously declared nationwide Eid cease-fires but resumed fighting immediately after the festivities.  

The ceasefire declaration came two days after bombings outside a school in the western of Kabul, killed at least 68, most of them students, and injured more than 165 others.

President Ashraf Ghani has declared Tuesday a day of mourning for the victims bombing.

Afghan government said the Taliban was behind the attack.

But no group claimed responsibility for the attack.