KABUL – A three-day ceasefire agreed by the warring Taliban and Afghan government came into force today as the country celebrated Eid al-Fitr after weeks of deadly violence.
Proposed by the militants and matched by President Ashraf Ghani, the truce offered respite for Afghans as they mark the Muslim festival with friends and family.
Violence has intensified in the country since the United States missed a May 1 deadline, agreed with the Taliban last year, to withdraw all of its troops.
If the ceasefire holds, it will be only the fourth pause in fighting in nearly 20 years of conflict.
Early today, Afghan men, women, and children around the country flocked to mosques or gathered in open grounds to offer morning prayers at the start of Eid festivities that would last until Saturday.
Authorities deployed security personnel to prominent mosques here in the capital, who frisked worshippers as they arrived for morning prayers.
Crowds of Kabul residents later packed the capital’s main zoo and parks as they celebrated the festival with families, with only a few wearing masks to protect from the coronavirus.
“I feel so relaxed and peaceful today because it is Eid and there is no fighting,” said Mirajuddin, who like many Afghans goes by one name, who was visiting Kabul zoo with his five children, all dressed in new clothes.
Kabul resident Mohammad Sadeq said there was no more justification in fighting.
“This is no more jihad as the Americans are leaving. Now it is brothers killing brothers because both the Taliban and security forces are Afghans,” he said. – AFP, May 13, 2021
