By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

At least 24 people and Afghan police personnel were killed in an explosion and an armed assault in Afghanistan, local officials and media reported.

According to local Tolo news, a convoy of youth was on the way from southeastern Logar province to join the landmark Helmand peace marchers in the capital Kabul when a roadside IED blew up in the province’s Sarkh district, killing eight participants.

There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Such peace convoys of youth emerged in a number of provinces after the historic march of close to 700 kilometers (435 miles) on foot from Helmand to Kabul by the Helmand Peace March participants earlier this month.

The peace marchers are scheduled to hold protest demonstrations in front of a number of embassies and the UN office in the Afghan capital to push for peace.

The Taliban have rejected their offers for cease-fire, labeling the peace marchers as “intelligence operatives” for the U.S. The militants have also warned Afghans to not join such marches.

Earlier in the day, officials confirmed the Taliban rebels killed at least 16 members of the Afghan police on the last day of the government’s unilateral 18-day cease-fire on Wednesday.

According to Sunnat Temor, spokesman for the governor of Takhar province, the rebels attacked check posts of the Afghan police in Chah Aab district’s Nau Abad area last evening, killing 16 personnel and injuring two others.

The area is situated next to the Amu River [Oxus River] on the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Temor told Anadolu Agency that six police personnel are still missing and the rebels have also confiscated arms and ammunition from the security forces.

In a statement, the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, claimed to have killed 13 men in the attack.

Wednesday was the last day of an extended cease-fire announced by the Afghan government two weeks ago in hope to revive the stalled peace process.

Meanwhile, Gen. Abdul Raziq, the powerful chief of police in restive Kandahar province bordering Pakistan, has told the local Azadi Radio secret negotiations are underway with the Taliban leadership to ensure their integration in the government positions in a bid to end the armed resistance.

The Taliban have dubbed such previous reports about contacts with the government as “propaganda by the pro-government media.”

The Afghan Ministry of Defense has asserted security operations are underway against non-reconcilable militants and foreign terrorists in nine out of 34 provinces across the country.