Pact with Taliban on reducing violence begins midnight (1930 GMT) -Afghan official

By Abdul Qadir Sediqi

KABUL, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Afghan, international and Taliban forces will observe a seven-day period of reduced violence in Afghanistan beginning at midnight (1930 GMT), a senior Afghan official said on Friday.

"Based on the plan, the reduction in violence (RIV) will start between the Taliban and international and Afghan security forces for one week," a spokesperson for the Afghan National Security Advisor told Reuters.

U.S. officials and the Taliban spokesperson were not immediately available for comment. (Additional reporting by Jibran Ahmad and Rupam Jain; Writing by Gibran Peshimam Editing by Shri Navaratnam)