Kabul: Afghanistan's National Security Council (NSC) confirmed that the seven-day period of the reduction in violence – which the US and the Taliban have agreed as a pre-condition to signing a peace deal – will begin sharply at midnight on February 22.

The NSC spokesman Jawed Faisal said that Afghan forces are ready to implement the reduction in violence plan.

“Required guidance has been given to Afghan forces in this respect,” Faisal said. “It begins on Saturday at 12am.”

He added: “We hope that the Taliban will reduce violence as per the commitments.”

Sources familiar with the matter have said that under the seven-day reduction in violence, the Taliban attacks will be reduced significantly: the group will not launch attacks in cities, highways or against US bases or the headquarters of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF).

There will be no ANDSF offensives under a reduction in violence plan, according to the sources, who said there will also be no Resolute Support offensive operations – but they will support their Afghan counterparts if they are attacked.