Recent conflict ruins our Eid joys: Paktia people

GARDIZ CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of southeastern Paktia province say that the intensified conflicts in their regions have ruined people’s joys and preparations for Eidul Adha.

Hamidullah, a resident of ZazaiAryub district of Paktia, who is displaced by the conflict and currently lives in Gardiz city, the provincial capital, told Pajhwok Afghan News that they would have no joys during Eid-ul-Adha while away from their area.

“If we cannot go to our district to celebrate Eid in that beautiful area, it will not be Eid, it will be just a few holidays,” he said.

JamshidElham, a resident of Gardiz city, said that recent conflicts in the province caused huge damages to civilians besides the loss of many Afghan soldiers.

“The war swallowed the youths so handsome that you would not even want to wake them up from sleep, the youngest people turned to dust, so what people will do with Eid and other parties, Covid-19 has also spread terror,” he said.

Mohammad Hasham, a resident of Zurmat district, who has also been displaced to Gardiz city, complained about his separation from his area in Eid and asked for immediate ceasefire.

“We wonder why our life is in fire, the Eid is about joys and new clothes, meeting your friends, but there is nothing here, we are destroyed, we do not have even a shelter,” he said.

Markets in Gardiz city also give a deserted look and fewer people were seen coming to the city for shopping.

Jandad, a grocery store owner in Gardiz city said, “People in previous Eids would buy chocolates, fruits, cookies and other things, we would sell large amount of goods, as it was our season, but now there is no Eid at all, there are fewer customers, people have no money and they are unhappy.”

Paktia officials did not say anything about the situation in the province, but they had previously promised of retaking control of districts which recently fell to the Taliban.

mds/ma

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