Taliban reject ceasefire extension rumors in social media

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Taliban have rejected rumors in social media about extension in the three-day ceasefire they declared on occasion of Eidul Fitr, saying the truce has ended and they have no plan to extend it.

The Taliban and Afghan government had announced a three-day ceasefire during Eidul Fitr holidays and theceasefire ended last night at 12:00am.

Claim: The Taliban ordered its fighters not to fire on government forces beyond Eid

Facebook page AtalPashton on the second day of Eid wrote: “The Taliban Spokesperson ZabihullahMujahid has conveyed their leader’s message to its fighters to stay in defensive mode beyond Eid and refrain from attacking Afghan security forces because this is what the people want and we accept it.”

AtalPashton’s post was shared in the social media 385 times until 11:00am on Sunday, while some people shared it in groups as well.

Seventy-one social media users made comments on this post with some dubbing the post as wrong while others believed it and exchanged felicitations believing that ceasefire would be extended.

Pajhwok sent a message to AtalPashton but he did not respond, Pajhwok also identified the source and sent them a message but there was no response.

He, however, in his own comment he wrote that the source of this news is Nan Takai Asia website.

Fact Check:

Pajhwok checked Nan Takai Asia website but did not find such report.

AtalPashton quoted Taliban spokesperson ZabihullahMujahid about extension in ceasefire and posted the Taliban’s Qatar Office Spokesperson Dr. Naeem’s photo under his post.

ZabihullahMujahid when asked regarding AtalPashton’s claim said such claim is not true. He said ceasefire was for the sake of Eid and lasted three days.

According to reports, earlier, US, UNAMA, the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) had asked the Taliban to extend ceasefire but the Taliban said they had no plan to extend ceasefire beyond Eid.

The ceasefire officially ended at 12:00am last night but until 12:00pm on Sunday the Taliban published no report of violence.

This comes that after a long time the Taliban and government teams held a meeting in Doha and stressed over acceleration of peace talks.

Outcome: News circulating in social media regarding Taliban extending ceasefire beyond Eid has been rejected by the Taliban and said they have no plan to extend the truce.

Verdict: Taliban’s plan to extend Eid ceasefire is incorrect

There were no report about Taliban and security forces clashes during Eid but as a result of roadside blasts on the first day of Eid 11 civilians, including six chidlren, were killed in Kandahar, Kunduz and Ghazni provinces.

On the secnd day of Eid, 12 worshipers, including prayer leader, were killed in a blast inside a moque in the Shakardara district of Kabul.

Ahmad Sohaib Hasrat

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