Afghans across the country on Tuesday, August 18, 2020, celebrated the 101st Independence Day by holding gatherings in different provinces, mainly in Nangarhar, Herat, Kabul, and Kandahar.
This national holiday honors Shah Amanullah Khan’s founding of the nation in 1919.
President Ashraf Ghani on Tuesday morning placed a wreath at the Minaret of Independence at the Ministry of Defense to mark the day.
Second VP Sarwar Danish, Chairman Abdullah Abdullah, the chief justice, the Meshrano Jirga speaker, army officials and a number of ambassadors and foreign representatives were present at the ceremony.
During the celebration at least 14 rockets hit different parts of Kabul city this morning, the Ministry of Interior confirmed.
The Ministry said so far 10 people were wounded in the rocket attacks.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Official ceremonies will take place in various parts of the country and thousands of families and friends will spend the day together to mark the event.
In the lead up to Independence Day, dozens of flag sellers have been walking the streets of Kabul and other cities, selling their wares.
The Taliban also in a statement called upon all “internal sides” to rescue this suffering nation from further hardships.
“As today we are once again on the threshold of gaining independence, we call upon all internal sides to give preference to the aspirations and real demands of this nation, support the call of freedom and sovereignty and rescue this suffering nation from further hardships,” read the statement.
