Afghanistan strikes Taliban truce in remote area

Afghanistan has struck a ceasefire deal with Taliban insurgents in a remote province, a presidential spokesman said today, the first move of its kind amid an escalation of violence ahead of elections next month.

Afghanistan has struck a ceasefire deal with Taliban insurgents in a remote province, a presidential spokesman said on Monday, the first move of its kind amid an escalation of violence ahead of elections next month.

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The truce was reached on Saturday in northwestern Badghis province, near the border with Turkmenistan, spokesman Seyamak Herawi said. The government wanted to make similar deals with the Taliban in other parts of the country in a bid to improve security for the Aug. 20 presidential election, he said.