Kabul
A Taliban attack in northern Afghanistan killed at least 17 local militiamen, an Afghan official said Sunday. The attack apparently targeted a local militia commander who escaped unharmed, said Jawad Hajjri, a spokesman for the governor of Takhar province, where the attack took place late Saturday.
Local Afghan militias commonly operate in remote areas, and are under the command of either the defense or interior ministries. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. The attack came even as Taliban officials have told The Associated Press that a temporary nationwide cease-fire may be in the works.
The Taliban have previously refused all offers of a cease-fire by the Afghan government, except for a three-day truce in June 2018 over the Eid Al-Fitr holiday.
The current cease-fire proposal would last a week to 10 days. During that time, a peace deal with the United States would then be signed, the Taliban officials said. Talks between Afghans on both sides of the conflict would follow to decide on the shape of a post-war Afghanistan.
The Taliban shura, or ruling council, is currently debating whether to accept the US cease-fire proposal, the Taliban officials said. — AP
