Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Thursday said the Taliban has increased their offensives on at least seven provinces following the end of the group’s three-day Eid-ul-Fitr ceasefire. 

According to reports, over 90 Afghan security force members have been killed in the past two days in clashes with the Taliban in Badghis, Farah, Faryab and Ghazni provinces. 

A number of former military officers have meanwhile criticized President Ashraf Ghani for his extended unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban and accused him of not having effective monitoring procedures of armed groups in insecure regions in place.

“A ceasefire means we are prepared around the clock and we must closely monitor our enemies in terms of intelligence,” said former military officer Atiqullah Amarkhail. 

The Taliban resumed attacks on the Afghan forces immediately after their Eid ceasefire ended late Sunday. 

The latest in a string of attacks by the Taliban on Afghan forces was in Bala Murghab and Abkamari districts of Badghis on Thursday. At least 40 members of the Afghan security forces were killed in these attacks. 

“They (Taliban) misused the mercy of the government forces, but the security forces taught them such a great lesson that they had never seen before,” said General Fahim Qaeem, the Badghis police commander. 

The Taliban have also expanded their attacks in Khwaja Sabz Posh District of Faryab. The Taliban killed at least ten security force members in these attacks. 

Reports indicate that the group  also launched fresh attacks on Afghan security forces in some parts of Farah province over the past two days. 

Security forces said at least 18 members of the Afghan police and army were killed in Bala Buluk and Lash Wa Juwayn Districts. 

“People are very distressed, the central government should focus on Farah,” said Dadullah Qane, a Farah provincial council member. 

“Over 12 vehicles belonging to the enemies were destroyed,” said Mohibullah Mohib, the spokesman for Farah police headquarters. 

Afghan defense officials meanwhile said security forces have dealt major blows to the group during the recent attacks. 

“We have used all our resources to crush the enemies of Afghanistan who are waging war, we killed dozens of enemy fighters who violated the ceasefire,” said defense ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish. 

Violence has also increased in Uruzgan, Nangarhar and Ghazni provinces since Monday, officials said. 

On Sunday Ghani ordered an extension of the ceasefire but said security forces must remain on the defensive.