Afghan President Calls For Taliban Ceasefire

Afghan president Ashraf Ghani has called for a conditional cease-fire with Taliban insurgents for the duration of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

President Ghani made the announcement on Sunday during celebrations of the 99th anniversary of Afghanistan's independence in the capital of Kabul.

Mr Ghani stressed that the ceasefire was dependant on the Taliban upholding it: 

"The cease-fire should be observed from both sides, and its continuation and duration also depend on the Taliban's stand."

He added that should the Taliban agree, it would be observed over Monday and Tuesday, the Eid holidays.

Mr Ghani said he hoped extensions could also be agreed upon to make it last until November 20, which will mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad.

The Taliban did not immediately respond to the announcement.

The government had previously announced a cease-fire with the Taliban during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in June.

The Taliban accepted that three-day cease-fire, but later rejected a call by the president to extend it.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan's government has freed 149 people abducted by the Taliban hours earlier although the insurgents still hold 21 hostages, officials have said.

President Ghani's call comes just a day after the leader of the Afghan Taliban said there would be no peace in Afghanistan as long as the "foreign occupation" continues.

Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzadah reiterated the group's position that the country's 17-year war can only be brought to an end through direct talks with the United States.

In a message released on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday, he said that the group remained committed to "Islamic goals", the sovereignty of Afghanistan and ending the war.

The Taliban have resurged in recent years, seizing districts across the country and regularly carrying out large-scale attacks.

Earlier this month, the Taliban launched a major assault on the city of Ghazni, just 75 miles from Kabul.

Afghan security forces battled the militants inside the city for five days, as the US carried out airstrikes and sent advisers to help ground forces.

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has welcomed the move from Mr Ghani, and called on the Taliban to participate.

He says it's now time for peace