Afghan scholars urge government, Taliban for Eid truce

By Shadi Khan Saif

KABUL, Afghanistan

A group of Afghan religious scholars on Saturday urged the government and the Taliban to declare a cease-fire during Eid al-Adha after a series of recent deadly attacks in the country that left dozens dead.

A resurging militancy across the country claimed hundreds of lives just a week before Eid.

The government’s peace negotiating body -- the High Peace Council -- was now joining hands with religious scholars to push the warring sides to a cease-fire.

Addressing a gathering, the council’s Chairman Mohammad Karim Khalili said he hopes both sides would declare the truce for an even longer period.

Council deputy Haji Deen Mohammad told Anadolu Agency the government remains inclined to the idea of a cease-fire; however, the duration for the truce was not finalized yet.

Separately, in an Eid message, Taliban chief Mullah Hibatullah Ahundzada called on the U.S. to enter “transparent and result-oriented” talks for peace with the armed group.

Afghanistan will observe Eid al-Adha on Tuesday.