MPs in the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Wednesday said they would welcome an extension of the ceasefire but raised concerns about Taliban fighters having stayed behind in government-controlled areas following the Eid truce.

A successful three-day ceasefire over Eid saw an estimated 30,000 Taliban insurgents converge on cities, towns and villages under government control across the country.

Officials said earlier this week that by the end of Sunday most had returned to the trenches but that many stayed behind.

“Taliban entered cities including Kabul without any regulation or supervision. It was exciting for people but if we look at it deeply, it is really dangerous,” said Makhdoom Abdalullah Mohammadi, an MP.

“I thank Mr. President (Ashraf Ghani) for his peace and ceasefire efforts. He did what he could do in his capacity,” said Obaidullah Barikzai, an MP.

Other MPs meanwhile criticized government for not have a framework in place for peace talks with the Taliban.

“The fact that government is not sharing details of such processes is questionable,” said Sadiqizada Nili, an MP.

“People are encouraged about peace despite (the ceasefire having been) short - for only three days over EID,” said the speaker of parliament, Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi.

Some officials said on Tuesday that Taliban leaders have held talks with government authorities in the wake of the ceasefire.

However, Taliban has rejected these claims.  

On Tuesday, Ghani said at a meeting with Helmand peace activists that he would extend the ceasefire if the Taliban extended their truce.  

Reports say that the Helmand peace convoy has handed over a list of demands to the Taliban and set a three-day deadline for the group to announce a one year ceasefire and to agree to hold talks with government.

Indications are that the activists have asked for talks to be held in Afghanistan in order to establish an intra-Afghan peace dialogue.

So far the Taliban has not commented about these reports.

Following the successful Eid ceasefire, the Taliban immediately resumed attacks around the country and said on Wednesday afternoon that its fighters attacked a convoy of government forces’ fuel trucks on the Kabul-Balkh Highway. According to them, the highway was closed to traffic as fighting between security forces and Taliban fighters was ongoing.