KABUL – The Taliban announced its first ceasefire in Afghanistan since the2001 US invasion on Saturday, with a three-day halt in hostilities againstthe country’s security forces that was greeted with relief by war-wearyAfghans.

But the group warned the suspension of fighting for the first three days ofEid, did not extend to “foreign occupiers”, who would continue to betargeted by the militants.

The unexpected move came two days after the Afghan government’s ownsurprise announcement of a week-long halt to operations against theTaliban.

It is the first time in nearly 17 years of conflict that the militants havedeclared a ceasefire.