RELIGION-EID/AFGHANISTAN-PRESIDENT Afghan president gives Eid al-Fitr message

Record ID: 146780

  • Title: RELIGION-EID/AFGHANISTAN-PRESIDENT Afghan president gives Eid al-Fitr message
  • Date: 17th July 2015
  • Summary: EXTERIOR OF PALACE MOSQUE VARIOUS OF MEN PRAYING VARIOUS OF MEN HUGGING EACH OTHER GHANI GREETING OFFICIALS GHANI BEFORE SPEECH GHANI STANDING NEXT TO FORMER PRESIDENT HAMID KARZAI CAMERA (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) AFGHAN PRESIDENT ASHRAF GHANI, SAYING: "I appreciate the announcement made by the leader of the Taliban Mullah Mohammad Omar who supported the peace talks as the only s
  • Embargoed: 1st August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Afghanistan
  • Country: Afghanistan
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2VONMCNVW7MTH1EPJMYGT8T2C
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Afghan president Ashraf Ghani in his Eid al-Fitr message on Friday (July 17) welcome the Taliban leader's commitment for peace talks to end the decades of conflict in the country.
    On his first Eid message to the nation Ghani spoke at the presidential palace in Kabul after Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.
    "I appreciate the announcement made by the leader of the Taliban Mullah Mohammad Omar who supported the peace talks as the only salutation for Afghanistan," Ghani said.
    A message purportedly from reclusive Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar on Wednesday (July 15) appeared for the first time to signal approval for peace talks with the Afghan government, a week after milestone meetings between the two sides in Pakistan.
    It represented the first word in the name of Mullah Omar on the budding peace process that has deeply split the Afghan insurgents' leadership.
    Pakistan hosted the meeting in a tentative step towards ending more than 13 years of war in neighbouring Afghanistan, where the Taliban have been trying to re-establish their hard-line Islamist regime after it was toppled by U.S.-led military intervention in 2001.
    The next round of talks is provisionally planned for Aug. 15 and 16 in Doha, capital of Qatar, according to sources close to the participants.
    However, it was far from clear whether the budding peace process could end an escalating conflict that kills hundreds of Afghans every month.
    Ghani also greeted the Afghan people on the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
    "I send my regards to all Afghan national on the Eid holiday. I really hope that these special days are without any incident so our people can enjoy with their families in peace as they have passed the holy month of Ramadan," he said.
    Violence has escalated across the country this year and Afghan civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict, with over 1,800 casualties recorded by the United Nations in the first three months of the year.
    Afghans were hopeful that the government would ensure their safety during the holiday period.
    "I am so glad today to celebrate the Eid festival. I call on our government to ensure security for people so everyone can enjoy the holidays alongside their families without any risk," said Khalil Jan, a resident of Kabul.
    Every year Muslims across the world gather to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, one of the year's biggest religious festivals.
    Eid is due to be celebrated either on Friday (July 17) or Saturday (July 18) , when the first sighting of the new moon is seen in the sky.
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