Millions of war-weary Afghans yesterday marked the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha with prayers and feasting, hopeful of a brief respite from fighting that has seen record-breaking losses this year.
Afghanistan has seen fighting between government forces and Islamist militants - mainly Taliban insurgents but also Islamic State fighters - reach record levels this year following the 2014 withdrawal of US-led foreign combat troops.
“Our country has been at war for nearly four decades, but the three days of Eid are the happiest days of our life because this an occasion where families come together and enjoy and celebrate this festival,” Kabul resident Nasratullah Wafa said.
The roads of the capital were mostly empty and many were blocked by military to safeguard against possible attacks, while police stood guard over mosques during the morning Eid prayers.
US Brigadier General Charles Cleveland in August said Afghan security forces were on track for their bloodiest year to date, surpassing the roughly 5,000 deaths of local police and troops and around 15,000 wounded in 2015.
He did not offer figures but said there was an increase of about 20% over the corresponding period last year.
Afghan forces backed by US air strikes have mounted a new offensive to flush out Taliban insurgents encircling the capital of southern Uruzgan province, officials said Sunday, days after militants stormed into the city.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani meanwhile offered Eid greetings to the nation and said that a peace deal with Hezb-e-Islami, the country’s second-biggest Islamist group that has been dormant for a number of years, was imminent.
“Peace is the desire of Afghan nation, and the Afghan nation has consensus for peace. The peace agreement will be finalised very soon,” he said.
Afghans offer Eid al-Adha prayers at the Hazrat-i-Ali shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif yesterday.
