Peace for Eid as Afghanistan observes ceasefire

KABUL: Afghans greeted the beginning of Eid with prayers on Friday as the Muslim holiday dawned in peace for the first time since the 2001 US-led invasion, after the Taliban agreed to an unprecedented ceasefire.

Flocking to mosques for special morning worship marking the first day of the festival, youngsters in the war-battered country expressed cautious optimism, following the suspension of fighting between Afghan security forces and the militants.

“On almost every Eid we have had attacks — this is a rare Eid without violence,” Samiullah, 17, who is almost the same age as the conflict, told AFP after prayers at the Shah-e Do Shamshira mosque in central Kabul.

“We are hopeful peace will come to Afghanistan.”

Fourteen-year-old Sohrab Ahmad, who earns money polishing shoes outside the mosque, said he could not remember an Eid without fighting.

“I believe there will be peace between the Taliban and the Afghan government,” he said. But not everyone was so hopeful.

“I don´t think there will be peace in Afghanistan. We are seeing an increase in attacks on a daily basis,” Imran, 13, told AFP.

Defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh told AFP there had been no reports of Taliban attacks on Afghan forces since the start of the holiday.

President Ashraf Ghani announced last week that police and troops would cease operations against the Taliban for eight days, starting Tuesday — though he warned that operations against other groups, including the Islamic State group, would continue.

The Taliban said Saturday their fighters would stop attacking Afghan security forces for the first three days of Eid, the first time the Taliban had declared a nationwide ceasefire in the nearly 17-year conflict. They said they would continue attacking US-led NATO troops.

Muslims across the world also celebrated Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam´s most significant holidays, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan and is typically celebrated by feasting and gift-giving.

In the Iraqi capital Baghdad, young people treated themselves to elaborate haircuts, in a modern interpretation of the tradition of dressing up for the festival.

Tens of millions of people across Indonesia, the world´s largest Muslim-majority nation, celebrated Eid with special prayers at mosques and in public spaces, including a large gathering in front of the Bajra Sandhi monument on the predominantly Hindu island Bali.

Elsewhere, hundreds of devotees — many dressed in white and wearing skull caps — turned out for prayers in front of the multi-domed Baiturrahman mosque in the Sumatran city of Banda Aceh.

Others knelt for morning prayers in the shadow of one of Indonesia´s most active volcano, Mount Sinabung, which has been rumbling since 2010. — AFP

NNI adds from Jalalabad: The Afghans on Friday joined millions of Muslims across the world to mark the first day of Eidul Fitr with prayers across the country, including central capital Kabul, without any untoward incident taking place.

In Kabul, worshippers flocked to the Eid Gah mosque, Pul-i-Kheshti,Wazir Akbar Khan and other major mosques to offer Eid prayers.

President Ashraf Ghani offered the Eid prayers at the mosque in the Presidential Palace where former jihadi leaders, Cabinet ministers and lawmakers were present.

The imams mostly spoke about the importance of the day and prayed for durable peace in the country.

Haji Abdul Majid, who offered the prayers at Haji Abdul Rahman mosque, told Pajhwok that he wished every day passed like today’s, referring to the government-Taliban ceasefire.

He urged the Afghans to stop killing each other and reconcile forever.

Syed Osman, a resident of Deh Afghanan, said Eid was an occasion when love was shared. “May God bring peace to the country so everyday becomes Eid for Afghans.”

The Ministry of Interior has said elaborate security measures are put in place in Kabul for the religious festival. However, no security incident was reported so far.