TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): The residents of central Uruzgan province have asked the conflicting parties to declare a ceasefire like they did on last year’s Eid.
The Afghan government and the Taliban had agreed to a three-day ceasefire last year from the day one of the Eid-ul-Fitr.
Common people were overjoyed by the truce and Afghan forces and Taliban militants were seen hugging each other to celebrate the ceasefire.
But after the end of the three-day ceasefire, fighting resumed and the conflicting parties used guns against each other.
After nearly one year since the ceasefire, the residents of Uruzgan again urged the conflicting parties to renounce violence and pave the way for long-term peace and stability.
Abdul Qadir, a resident of Khanqi locality on the outskirts of Tirinkot City, migrated to the provincial capital and has been living here for the past three years.
He said last year the Taliban and security personnel exchanged gifts and showered flowers at each other during the ceasefire.
He said the Taliban, however, entered Tirinkot City with weapons and ammunition but security personnel behaved with them like brothers and provided them great hospitality.
Samiullah, a policeman in Tirinkot City, said he visited his village during last Eid-ul-Fitr and would go home this Eid if ceasefire was observed.
Tribal elder Muallim Rahmatullah said everyone wanted peace and had always demanded of the warring parties to stop killing brothers.
The elder, who has lost family members to the ongoing war, asked the Taliban and government to announce ceasefire and stop fighting.
Governor Mohammad Shafiq Asadullah Saeed said Uruzgan had suffered the most from violence and the past three years of fighting took everything away from them.
He believed with peace everyone could live a happy and peaceful life. “Peace brings joys and opportunities while war brings nothing but miseries.”
The recently concluded Consultative Peace Jirga.
The Taliban, however, rejected the ceasefire offer during Ramadan and but they are yet to respond about truce during Eid.
nh/ma
Views: 4