Taliban to continue fighting after refusing to extend first ceasefire in 17 years

The Taliban has said it will continue to fight after Afghanistan's first ceasefire since 2001 ends on Sunday night.

"The ceasefire ends tonight and our operations will begin, inshallah," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

"We have no intention to extend the ceasefire."

Their refusal to extend the three-day hold on fighting comes as Taliban fighters were seen hugging and taking selfies with Afghan security forces and civilians as they all celebrated Eid.

There were hopes the bonhomie would lead to the militants agreeing to extend the ceasefire, the first since the 2001 US invasion.

Despite Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announcing on Saturday his government would be extending its own ceasefire beyond Tuesday, the Taliban refused to do the same.

There are now fears the Taliban will use the ceasefire to increase their offensive as fighters have been allowed to pour into cities unchecked.

The president also announced that 46 Taliban prisoners had been released on Saturday in the spirit of the Eid ceasefire.

His office said a ban had been lifted on Taliban fighters receiving normal state assistance and benefits.

Amarullah Saleh, the former head of the national directorate of security, said Mr Ghani had committed "a grave mistake" by allowing Taliban fighters to enter government-controlled areas.

"We don't have mechanisms in place to mitigate the breach of ceasefire by the Taliban," he said.

As the Taliban announced it would not be extending the ceasefire there was an explosion outside the governor's office in Nangarhar province, near the Indian consulate.

Officials said 10 people were killed and 30 wounded, but no group has yet claimed responsibility.

As Afghans on all sides celebrated together on Saturday there was another explosion in Nangarhar, with a car suicide bomber killing 36 people outside the provincial capital of Jalalabad.

Islamic State, who was not included in the ceasefire, claimed responsibility.

MPs opposing the opening of relations said Mr Ghani had not consulted politicians and would be left with no recourse if the Taliban rejected his impromptu request to reciprocate extending the ceasefire, as they now have.

A senior western diplomat in Kabul said it was "a bold move" but said "the consequences could be disastrous" if the Taliban does not extend the halt in hostilities.

Some Taliban fighters checked their weapons in at the entrances to cities, with the promise to have them returned when they left.

But in other provinces the insurgents were carrying rocket launchers, grenades and ammunition.

Villagers still flocked around the militants, hugging them and taking selfies.

Governors and senior government officials hosted small feasts, played music to welcome the militants' ceasefire, coinciding with the close of the month-long Ramadan fasting season.

The mood on Sunday remained festive, with a story being passed around of a member of the Taliban hugging Kabul residents then asking for directions to Baharistan, west of Kabul.

"I have heard there is very good ice cream there," he said.