Taliban end partial truce, resume operations against Afghan forces

KABUL (AFP) - A deadly blast shattered a period of relative calm in Afghanistan on Monday, as the Taliban told fighters to resume operations against Afghan security forces -- just days after signing a deal with Washington aimed at ushering in a new era of peace.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack at a football ground in Khost in eastern Afghanistan, where three brothers were killed.

The blast occurred at around the same time the Taliban ordered fighters to start up attacks against Afghan army and police forces, bringing to an apparent end the "reduction in violence" period that had seen a dramatic drop in bloodshed.

The partial truce between the US, the Taliban and Afghan security forces lasted for the week running up to the signing of an accord between the US and the insurgents in Doha on Saturday, and was extended over the weekend.

"The reduction in violence... has ended now and our operations will continue as normal," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.

"As per the (US-Taliban) agreement, our mujahideen will not attack foreign forces but our operations will continue against the Kabul administration forces."

The Taliban s military commission circulated an order telling fighters to resume operations, according to a document provided to AFP by an insurgent source.

The order comes a day after President Ashraf Ghani said he would continue the partial truce at least until talks between Afghan officials and the Taliban kick-off, supposedly on March 10.

Fawad Aman, deputy spokesman for the defence ministry, said Monday the government was "checking to see if (the truce) had ended".

"We have not had any reports of any big attacks in the country yet," he said before the blast at the football match.

The US forces in Afghanistan declined to comment. Ahead of the signing of Saturday s deal, Washington said it expected the Taliban to maintain the reduction of violence ahead of the launch of intra-Afghan talks, slated to take place in Oslo.