KABUL/JALALABAD - Dozens of peace protesters arrived in Kabul on Monday after walking hundreds of kilometres across war-battered Afghanistan, as the Taliban ended an unprecedented ceasefire and resumed attacks in several parts of the country.
Exhausted after their 700-kilometre (430-mile) 38-day trek, most of it during the Islamic fasting month of Ramazan, the marchers walked double file through the Afghan capital shouting “We want peace!” and “Stop fighting!”
Earlier on Saturday, the Afghan government announced extending the ceasefire with the Taliban despite a suicide bombing killing at least 25, which marred an otherwise remarkable Eid holiday that has seen militants hugging security forces and civilians in celebration of the unprecedented truce.
President Ashraf Ghani made the announcement in a rare televised address, in which he also asked the Taliban to extend their three-day ceasefire, which was due to end Sunday night. The government’s ceasefire is due to end Tuesday.
The Taliban had announced their truce for the first three days of Eid, which started Friday, promising not to attack Afghan security forces for the first time in the nearly 17-year conflict. They said they would continue attacking US-led Nato troops.
The Islamic State militants, who too were not part of the ceasefire, allegedly struck a crowd celebrating the ceasefire on Saturday in Rodat district, in the eastern province of Nangarhar.
The suicide attack was the first major incident of violence since the start of Eid which killed at least 25 people and wounded 54.
Public craving for peace
“We want our people to stay united for peace and get rid of this misery for the next generation,” Mohammad Naikzad, one of the marchers, told Tolo News.
“I am calling on both sides - the government and the Taliban - for God’s sake... find a way for peace and reconciliation.”
Fellow peace marcher Karwan also urged both the parties to work together to “bring lasting security in this country”.
“Enough blood has been shed. So many people have been martyred in this ongoing conflict,” he told Tolo News.
The Taliban refused to extend their three-day ceasefire beyond Sunday night despite pressure from ordinary people, the government and the international community.
Their fighters attacked security forces in the eastern provinces of Nangarhar, Kunar and Laghman, and in the southern provinces of Helmand and Kandahar, officials told AFP. There were few details on casualties.
The governor of Ghani Khel district in Nangarhar was shot dead and his bodyguard wounded on Monday, provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani told AFP, blaming the Taliban.
Defence ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh said there had been fighting in nine provinces since the end of the Taliban’s ceasefire, with 12 soldiers killed or wounded.
Around 2,500 Taliban fighters entered Kabul during the three-day ceasefire and most had refused to return to the battlefield, Radmanesh said.
“They are tired of war and have given up fighting, but our security and defence forces are ready to prevent and respond to any threat,” he added.
- War-weary -
The peace march, believed to be the first of its kind in Afghanistan, grew out of a sit-in protest and hunger strike in Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern province of Helmand which is a Taliban stronghold.
That demonstration, which began spontaneously after a car bomb attack in the city on March 23, triggered similar movements by war-weary Afghans nationwide.
But when the Taliban and security forces failed to heed their demands to stop fighting, some protesters decided to take their message directly to the country’s top leaders.
Initially ridiculed for their plan to walk from Helmand to Kabul, the marchers now enjoy strong public support.
They are calling for an extended ceasefire, peace talks and a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan - which is also a key demand of the Taliban.
The Taliban announced Sunday they would not extend their ceasefire with Afghan police and troops despite describing the truce as “successful” and a demonstration that the militants were united.
“The mujahedeen across the country are ordered to continue their operations against the foreign invaders and their domestic stooges as usual,” the group said in a statement.
The group also repeated its demand for direct talks with the United States and the withdrawal of foreign forces.
Hugs and selfies
The first formal nationwide ceasefire since the 2001 US-led invasion had sparked extraordinary scenes of Taliban fighters, security forces and civilians happily celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday together.
The fighters embraced and even prayed with security forces, politicians, and civilians across the war-battered country, in a mass outpouring of emotion.
In scenes that would have been unthinkable only a few days ago, Afghan forces manning checkpoints in the contested district of Bati Kot in Nangarhar offered Eid greetings to Taliban, embracing and posing for photos with the same people they are usually trying to kill.
The fighters travelled openly by car and motorbike, carrying assault weapons and rocket-propelled grenade launchers and waving Afghan and Taliban flags.
Villagers also flocked around the insurgents, hugging them and happily taking selfies.
“I am here to offer greetings to our brothers in the police and army,” Taliban commander Baba told AFP.
“We have held the ceasefire well so far. Everyone is tired of war and if our leaders order us to continue the ceasefire, we will hold it forever.”
Taliban leadership alarmed
The jubilation appeared to alarm Taliban leaders, who on Sunday ordered their fighters to stay at their posts or in areas under their control.
Some people took to social media to express disappointment and anger at the Taliban’s refusal to extend the truce.
“Once again, they have shown that they love shedding the blood of innocent Afghans,” Madena Momad wrote on Facebook.
Another user wrote: “The Taliban have no respect for the norms and lives of Afghan people.”
Peace marchers arrive in Kabul
as fight resumes
Peace marchers arrive in Kabul
as fight resumes
