Taliban fighters attacked Afghan government forces overnight, and militant commanders said their operations would continue until they get fresh instructions based on a deal with the United States to reduce violence in the country.
The US and the Taliban are perhaps just days away from announcing an agreement that could pave the way for peace talks between the Afghan parties themselves and the withdrawal of US troops from the country.
So far details of what has been decided are limited but an agreement seems tantalisingly close.
The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet speaks to Susie Ferguson.
