10 killed as suicide bomber shatters Afghan truce

The bombing, likely carried out by ISIS, came as Taliban officials declined to extend the Eid ceasefire

epa06814604 Afghan national army officers search alleged Taliban fighters during a three-day ceasefire on second day of Eid al-Fitr, in the outskirt of Kabul, Afghanistan, 16 June 2018.  Earlier in the month, President Ghani's government had announced a temporary ceasefire, starting on 12 June, to last until the end of the festival. The Taliban had followed suit a few days later and announced a three-day partial ceasefire during the festival.  EPA/JAWAD JALALI
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A suicide bomber struck in Afghanistan's eastern city of Jalalabad on Sunday, killing at least 10 people in the second attack in as many days targeting Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians celebrating a holiday cease-fire.

Attahullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, said the attack took place near the governor's compound.

Saturday's attack, which also took place in Jalalabad, killed at least 36 people and wounded 65, according to Najibullah Kamawal, director of the provincial health department

No one has claimed the attacks, but they appear to be the work of the Islamic State group, which is not included in the cease-fire and has clashed with the Taliban in the past. The local ISIS affiliate has a strong presence in the province.

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The bomber on Saturday targeted a gathering of Taliban fighters who were celebrating a three-day truce coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

After the attack, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced a nine-day extension of the cease-fire. The three-day holiday and the cease-fire end Sunday. However, Taliban officials said on Sunday that they would not extend the truce.

The chairman of the High Peace Council, a government body charged with negotiating an end to the nearly 17-year war, called on the Taliban to accept the extended cease-fire and join the peace process.

"We hope that the extension of the cease-fire will be announced by the leadership of the Taliban," Mohammad Karim Khalili told a press conference in the capital, Kabul. He said there had been an "exchange of views" between the government and the Taliban over the past week, without elaborating.

The Taliban have steadily expanded their presence in recent years, seizing a number of districts across the country and carrying out near-daily attacks on Afghan security forces. But over the past two days, Taliban fighters could be seen celebrating the truce alongside Afghan troops and other people in a number of locations.

Taliban leaders have at different times expressed interest in holding peace talks to end the conflict. But they have refused to meet with the U.S.-backed government, saying they will only negotiate with the United States directly. They have also demanded the withdrawal of all foreign forces.