INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Afghanistan also faces insurgencies from ISIS and Haqqani network
(File photo)Kabul: A car bomb killed at least 26 people at a gathering of Taliban and Afghan armed forces in
the eastern city of Nangarhar on Saturday, an official said, as soldiers and terrorists elsewhere in the country celebrated an unprecedented
ceasefire.Dozens of unarmed Taliban terrorists had earlier entered the Afghan capital and other cities to celebrate, coinciding with the end
of the Ramadan fasting season
Soldiers and terrorists exchanged hugs and took selfies on their smartphones.But in some provinces the insurgents were carrying rocket
launchers, grenades and other ammunition.Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor of Nangarhar, confirmed a car bomb was
responsible for the attack in the town of Ghazi Aminullah Khan, on the main Torkham-Jalalabad road
He had earlier said a rocket-propelled grenade was to blame.The Taliban denied responsibility for the attack
Afghanistan also faces insurgencies from ISIS and the Taliban-linked Haqqani network."The incident has nothing to do with the Taliban,"
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters
"The area where the blast happened is close to our front line
Some of our members went there to celebrate Eid
Our members suffered casualties."The Taliban announced a surprise three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday, which began on Friday, except
It overlaps with an Afghan government ceasefire which lasts until Wednesday.President Ashraf Ghani said in an address to the nation that he
would extend the ceasefire with the Taliban but did not give a time-frame
He also asked the Taliban to extend their three-day ceasefire, which is due to end on Sunday.It was not clear if Ghani knew about the bomb
in the east when he made his address.Taliban wearing traditional headgear entered Kabul through gates in the south and southeast
Traffic jams formed where people stopped to take pictures of the fighters with their flags
The Taliban urged people to come forward and take selfies."They are unarmed, as they handed over their weapons at the entrances," Kabul
police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai told Reuters
Their weapons would be returned when they leave, he said.Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak met Taliban fighters in Kabul, Tolo news said,
an almost unthinkable prospect just two weeks ago.Video and pictures on news websites showed cheerful soldiers and Taliban hugging one
another and exchanging Eid greetings in Logar province, south of Kabul, and Zabul in the south and central Maidan Wardak
Some people were dancing and clapping as onlookers took photos."MOST PEACEFUL EID"Members of rights groups organised a brief meeting between
Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents in Helmand's capital city, Lashkar Gah, 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 holstered
before they hugged each other."It was the most peaceful Eid
For the first time we felt safe
It is hard to describe the joy," said Qais Liwal, a student in Zabul.The main square of Kunduz city, capital of the province of the same
name, which has witnessed a series of bloody clashes, became a friendly meeting ground.Resident Mohammad Amir said his younger brother had
told him the Taliban were casually entering the city."I could not believe my eyes," he told Reuters
"I saw Taliban and police standing side by side and taking selfies."Photos on news websites showed armed police standing in line at the
corner of the street hugging Taliban fighters one by one.A video showed a huge crowd of people screaming and whistling as they welcomed the
In some districts of the eastern city of Jalalabad, civilians were offering dry fruit, traditional sweets and ice cream to Taliban
terrorists.A Reuters reporter in Jalalabad saw more than a dozen Taliban insurgents enjoying their food and playing with children.The
ceasefires, which follow months of deteriorating security, especially in the capital, Kabul, have coincided with the start of the soccer
World Cup and the Afghan cricket team's test match debut against India
But with delayed elections scheduled for October still in doubt, Afghans still yearn for peace that lasts longer than a few days.The Taliban
are fighting U.S.-led NATO forces, combined under the Resolute Support mission, and the U.S.-backed government to restore sharia, or Islamic
law, after their ouster by U.S.-led forces in 2001.Resolute Support said it was hopeful that the Taliban stick to their ceasefire "and we
hope that pause leads to dialogue and progress on reconciliation".© Thomson Reuters 2018
