Afghan Taliban to stop attacks on UN peace day

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) - A spokesman for Afghanistan’s Taliban said the militia would cease attacks on UN Peace Day on Sunday and would not obstruct a three-day polio vaccination starting the same day.

The Afghan army and international military forces have also announced, after a call from President Hamid Karzai, that they would halt offensives on Peace Day, September 21.

“In respect for the international Peace Day, Taliban have issued a declaration that we are in a defensive position and we will cease attacks,” a spokesman for the group, Yousuf Ahmadi, told AFP.

The extremists, who are linked to Al-Qaeda, posted a statement on their website to the same effect.

“If NATO and America and their followers respect this day for real, and avoid tricks and announce the ceasefire from the depth of their heart, the (Taliban) will also instruct to its own mujahedeen (holy warriors) to take the defensive position on this day,” the statement said.