Speaking to journalists in Kabul on Sunday US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad said the Taliban believes it cannot win the war militarily.

Khalilzad said he hopes a peace deal is reached before April 20 presidential elections and called on the Taliban to use it as an opportunity.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Sunday said that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have cleared Malistan district of Ghazni province of insurgents and are now advancing in Jaghori district.

“Afghan forces have cleared Malistan district of insurgents and Afghan commandos, police special forces and NDS units are launching air and ground operations on insurgents from two directions to clear Jaghori district as well,” said MoI spokesman Najib Danish in a Facebook post.