Zalmay Khalilzad, US special envoy for Afghan Reconciliation said Thursday on the first day of Eid
Fitr that both warring sides need to embrace the peace and forget about the past, and Eid is a time to think of the future of Afghanistan.
''I urge Afghan leaders on both sides to embrace peace. In the spirit of Eid, this should include a firm commitment and a public promise to refrain from any acts of vengeance related to the divisions of the past,'' Khalilzad tweeted.
He said, ''Instead, commit to coming together in brotherhood, so that all energy and all talents of the nation can be focused without fear, on the building of a better society''.
According to Khalilzad unrelenting violence has ''convulsed Afghanistan'' for many decades, citizens living in fear of what the next attack will bring.
He urged every warring party that now is the opportunity get together and embrace peace.
''While overcoming decades of mistrust and anger between warring parties is not easy, to make peace now is the only ethical and the only practical way forward'', the US special envoy for Afghanistan peace said.
On the other Hand, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, called US troop's withdrawal irresponsible.
The Hizb-e-Islami leader called the withdrawal decision before formation of a transitional government a huge mistake.
He said the withdrawal of foreign troops is a clear sign of another ''war'' unless Afghans don''t a political agreement.
Gulbuddin also indicated that he sees no reason for escalated violence in Afghanistan as foreign troops are leaving the country.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday following Eid prayer recalled on the Taliban to grab the peace opportunity.
Taliban have the best chance as foreign troops are leaving, they should put an end to war and people's arms are open to them, the president said.
President Ghani mentioned that Afghans know ''who is responsible for explosions and suicide attacks, he added that Afghans don''t want destruction, they want development.
Troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan has opened a new chapter of cooperation between the Afghan government and the international community.
Today the region looks at Afghanistan as an opportunity, there is political consensus and that Republic is like an Umbrella.
In regards to Taliban's intention, Ghani asked the militants that what is your message, what do you want!
The president whined saying ''Why are you destroying districts?''.
He challenged the Taliban group to show the world which district they fully have control over and what have they built in it.
The Taliban war as costed Afghanistan over one billion dollars, he added soon there will be a regional consensus on the Peace process as peace and stability in Afghanistan means peace and stability in the region.
This comes as on the first day of Eid’s ceasefire between the Taliban and the Afghan government nine people were killed and 17 others were injured in Kandahar and Kunduz incidents.
According to reports two land mines were detonated in Panjwai and Miawand districts in which seven civilians were killed.
Moreover, 2 people including a child were killed and 14 others were injured in Sardawra town in northern Kunduz province when a remote-controlled IED exploded.
Earlier Afghan army's 215th Maiwand corps in a released statement said that ''Mawlawi Ajmal'', Taliban's military chief for Lashkar Gah city of Helmand province was killed in an AAF airstrike.
Mawlawi Ajmal was killed in Bolan area in outskirts of Lashkar Gah city.
Maulvi Ajmal was killed in the Bolan area of Lashkar Gah, the army said in a statement. The Taliban’s military chief for Lashkar Gah was killed in an airstrike.
According to the statement, Maulvi Ajmal was responsible for the guerrilla attacks in Lashkar Gah in 2012, and also taught as a lecturer in the Faculty of Sharia at the university.
He was arrested by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in Helmand province in 2006 and transferred to Bagram prison in Parwan province.
However, he was among 5000 released Taliban prisoners due to US-Taliban agreement pact.
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