Taliban to Resume Attacking Afghan Forces

The Taliban are to resume attacks against government forces, just days after signing a deal with the US aimed at bringing peace to Afghanistan.

The hard-line Islamist party reported a "reduction in violence" in the week leading up to the US deal.

The deal included a commitment to conduct peace talks with the Government of Afghanistan.

But the group's spokesperson said yesterday that the negotiations would not take place if 5,000 Taliban captives held by the government were not freed.

The release formed part of the agreement signed on Saturday in Qatar with the US.

But on Sunday, Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani told reporters his government had agreed to no such release.

"There is no commitment to releasing 5,000 prisoners," Mr. Ghani said.

Source: BBC