Afghan leader makes rare appearance

KABUL: Afghanistan’s supreme leader appeared publicly for only the second time in six years on Sunday, telling worshippers celebrating Eid al-Fitr the Taleban had achieved freedom and security since seizing power last year. Speaking just two days after a bomb ripped through a mosque in Kabul, an atmosphere of heightened security surrounded the man introduced as Hibatullah Akhundzada, the chief of the Taleban.

“Congratulations on victory, freedom and success,” he told thousands of worshippers at the Eidgah mosque in the southern city of Kandahar, the hardline Islamist group’s de facto power centre.

“Congratulations on this security and for the Islamic system.” While the number of bombings across the country has dropped since Kabul fell to the Taleban last August, attacks soared over the final two weeks of the fasting month of Ramadan, which ended Saturday for Afghans. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the primarily sectarian attacks-some claimed by the Islamic State group-targeting members of the Shiite and Sufi Muslim communities. Friday’s bombing in the capital killed at least 10. Akhundzada delivered his brief address from one of the front rows of worshippers in Kandahar without turning to face the crowd, according to social media posts.

Taleban officials did not allow journalists to approach him, an AFP correspondent reported.

“I’m so happy that I can’t even describe it,” said Kandahar resident Bismillah, who attended the Eid prayers at the Eidgah mosque. “I had a dream to pray alongside my supreme leader, to hear his voice or to see him.” Gul Ahmad, another resident of Kandahar who prayed at the mosque, said Afghans would continue to worship despite the recent attacks.

“Our people love their religion... even if blasts happen every day, our people will still visit such places and worship,” he said. Two helicopters hovered over the mosque for the whole of the two-hour event.