Only two days after the United States and the Taliban in Doha signed an agreement intended to bring peace to Afghanistan and to kick start the intra-Afghan negotiations, the Taliban on Monday in a surprising move announced that the group is resuming its military operations against the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF). But the Taliban’s announcement to resume violence has been met with reactions from the UN mission in Afghanistan and the European Union (EU).             

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on Tuesday called for a continued reduction in violence plan to help build an environment favorable for the start of intra-Afghan talks.

“Following the Taliban’s reported resumption of military operations, the UN calls for continued reduced violence to maintain and enhance an environment conducive to the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, which should lead to a permanent ceasefire and a lasting political settlement,” UNAMA tweeted.

Roland Kobia, EU Special Envoy for Afghanistan, also said that the Taliban’s announcement of the resumption of violence is against the spirit of the peace deal signed between the United States and the Taliban in Doha.

“If the announcement of resumption of violence by Taliban is verified, this is against the spirit of the agreement just signed in Doha. This is not the time for posturing, but the phase to build trust and move forward in a constructive manner,” Kobia tweeted.

Meanwhile, Afghan citizens said that if the recent deal signed between the US and the Taliban is not able to prevent further escalation of violence, then the deal may not prove strong enough to bring long-term peace to the country.

Meanwhile, Afghan president Ashraf Ghani also criticized the Taliban for continuing attacks on the Afghan security forces, saying there is no space for the Taliban to fight while they have agreed to make peace with foreigners.

“They accepted to make peace with the foreigners, then what is the meaning of jihad?” asked Ghani, adding: “The killing of Afghans is a crime.”

Ordinary Afghans have also questioned the Taliban’s decision to continue fighting the Afghan security forces under the name of "jihad."

“We cannot call it jihad,” said a tribal elder in Uruzgan province, adding: “If they (the Taliban) want to fight a war, first they should fight Pakistan.”

“The Taliban should agree on a ceasefire instead of a reduction in violence. I call on the president and the chief executive to exchange (prisoners with) the Taliban and avoid making further problems for Afghanistan,” said Ahmad Khan Muslim, a tribal elder in Oruzgan.

Meanwhile, sources close to the Taliban have said that the decision to resume operations against Afghan forces were made following remarks by President Ashraf Ghani on the issue of Taliban prisoners.

“The honorable president in his remarks said that they will not release Taliban prisoners, so this was a kind of reaction from the Taliban against the government,” said Mawlana Jalaluddin Shinwari, former attorney general during the Taliban regime.