Afghanistan's Taliban insurgents have rejected the government's call for a ceasefire during Ramadan, citing delays in the implementation of a peace deal reached with the United States that includes a prisoner exchange.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani appealed to the militants to lay down their arms for the Islamic holy month that began on Friday, as the country battles a growing coronavirus oubreak.
But the Taliban's spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the the government's offer was irrational.
"Asking for ceasefire is not rational and convincing," he wrote in a tweet late on Thursday, accusing the government of putting prisoners' lives at risk during the outbreak.
The Taliban last observed a ceasefire with the government during the three-day Eid Al Fitr festival following Ramadan in 2018.
Under the US-Taliban deal signed earlier this year, the Afghan government and the insurgents were by now supposed to have concluded a prisoner swap and started talks aimed at bringing about a comprehensive ceasefire.
American and other foreign forces in Afghanistan as part of Nato's US-led Resolute Support Mission, have pledged to quit the country by July 2021 provided the Taliban stick to several security guarantees and hold talks with the government.
The insurgents accuse the government of not abiding by the terms of the prisoner swap, which would see 5,000 Taliban detainees released in exchange for 1,000 government officials, that is a precursor to direct negotiations. Both sides have released only a part of the numbers agreed upon.
The peace efforts have been hampered by a dispute between Mr Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, his main political rival who has refused to accept the result of the September 2019 presidential election, and the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Nato on Friday appealed for Afghan leaders to "resolve their differences and form an inclusive government", saying they "must seize this opportunity for peace".
The military alliance also urged the government and the Taliban to accelerate the release of prisoners as a confidence-building measure and to heed international calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, given the threat posed by the spread of the coronavirus.
The current level of violence by the Taliban was "not acceptable", Nato said.
Dozens of Afghan security forces personnel were killed in a fresh wave of violence launched by the insurgents this week.
The attacks have mostly been limited to rural areas and small towns. Under the US-Taliban deal, the insurgents agreed not to attack cities.
Mr Ghani has been calling for a lasting ceasefire with the Taliban for years, only to be ignored by the increasingly emboldened insurgents.
The Taliban instead have mocked his government, referring to them as "puppets" controlled by foreign powers, and have refused to engage in peace talks as they intensify attacks on Afghan forces.
Scorebox
Dubai Hurricanes 31 Dubai Sports City Eagles 22
Hurricanes
Tries: Finck, Powell, Jordan, Roderick, Heathcote
Cons: Tredray 2, Powell
Eagles
Tries: O’Driscoll 2, Ives
Cons: Carey 2
Pens: Carey
Oppenheimer
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
SOUTH%20KOREA%20SQUAD
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Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
