Turkish president says the move is also aimed at increasing the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza
mena7 hours ago
A new ceasefire appeared to be holding across Afghanistan on Friday as the Kabul government released more Taleban insurgents in a bid to accelerate the start of delayed peace talks.
The three-day truce, slated for the duration of the Eid Al Adha festival, is only the third official pause in nearly 19 years of war.
While there were no immediate reports of major fighting, an unclaimed car bomb that killed at least 17 people late Thursday highlighted Afghanistan's underlying volatility.
Afghans took advantage of the calm to flock to mosques to offer Eid prayers. In Kabul, armed guards patted down worshippers heading into neighbourhood mosques.
"We want a permanent ceasefire from the Taleban as they are the ones who paved the way for other terrorist groups to operate in Afghanistan," Mohammad Tahir, a taxi driver, told AFP after praying.
Worshippers also offered Eid prayers in the eastern city of Jalalabad, which has seen many deadly attacks over the years.
"Previously, we were not attending Eid prayers in large numbers for fear of suicide attacks," Jalalabad resident Wala Jan told AFP.
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