Mattis sees positive signs in Afghanistan

US Pentagon chief James Mattis said Sunday that there were encouraging signs in Afghanistan for talks between the government and the Taliban after 17 years of fighting.

He pointed to the Taliban's acceptance of a three-day ceasefire offered recently by President Ashraf Ghani.

Although the Taliban turned down a chance to extend the halt, Mattis pointed to the way Taliban fighters joined with government security forces and civilians to breakfast on the Eid religious holiday.

"Clearly Ghani has hit a responsive chord," Mattis told reporters.

"Not just on the Afghan national government side, but also it cut deep into the Taliban. We'll see how this goes forward."

During the unprecedented ceasefire fighters on both sides of the conflict expressed hopes it would continue.

But the sight of its fighters openly mingling with security forces and civilians appeared to alarm the Taliban's leaders, who ordered their men back to their posts.

Ghani's February offer of peace talks with the Taliban, considered to be one of the most comprehensive plans ever offered by an Afghan government, was ignored by the militants, which went on to launch their annual spring offensive.

The insurgents have repeatedly demanded direct dialogue with the United States, which Washington has refused, and the withdrawal of foreign troops.

But last month the Pentagon said that senior Taliban officials have been secretly negotiating with Afghan officials on a possible ceasefire.