JOY OF AIDILFITRI CEASEFIRE

3 days of peace as govt troops, Taliban fighters get together

AFGHAN soldiers and Taliban militants celebrated an unprecedented ceasefire marking the end of Ramadan with Aidilfitri greetings and hugs.

The Taliban announced a surprise three-day ceasefire over the Aidilfitri holiday, except against foreign forces, which overlaps a government ceasefire which lasts until Wednesday.

Video and pictures on social media showed cheerful soldiers and Taliban hugging one another and exchanging Aidilfitri greetings in Logar province, south of here, Zabul in the south and central Maidan Wardak.

Deputy Interior Minister Masood Azizi said the ceasefire was being monitored.

“There have been no attacks.” Governors in Helmand, Kandahar and Zabul said both sides had adhered to the ceasefire.

Members of rights groups organised a brief meeting between Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents in Helmand’s capital city. Laskargah, where the Taliban have delivered a series of blows to government forces this year.

Men and women gathered around the soldiers and Taliban fighters, and urged them to keep their weapons at their sides before they hugged each other.

“It was the most peaceful Aidilfitri. For the first time, we felt safe.

“It is hard to describe the joy,” said Qais Liwal, a college student in Zabul.

The Taliban are fighting United States-led Nato forces, under the Resolute Support mission, and the US-backed government to restore syariah law, after their ouster by US-led forces in 2001.