Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada in an Eid message on Thursday has ordered members of the group to take all necessary steps to protect people during Eid days.
He also ordered members of the group to pay attention to people’s “happiness and immunity” during Eid days.
Mullah Hibatullah said that while the war is ongoing, the political efforts have also increased aimed at end the “occupation of Afghanistan”.
He also ordered the group to protect public projects and national wealth.
In a message to the US, he said the Taliban is taking forward the peace process “thoroughly” and that the United States should move forward “honestly” to take effective steps to resolve the country’s issues and end 18 years of war.
The Taliban leader criticized the increase in airstrikes and controversial remarks US political and military officials which caused the group’s concerns and doubt over the peace process.
This comes as the US and Taliban representatives have held several meetings for reaching a peace deal.
US Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad on Tuesday said he had made “excellent progress” in his talks with the Taliban in Doha over the last few days.
In the meantime, sources familiar with the talks said that Taliban’s most senior peace negotiator in Qatar, Mullah Baradar, accompanied by several other members from the insurgent group has departed for Uzbekistan where he will attend a meeting on the Afghan peace process in Samarkand.
Setting out a timeline for the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan apparently dominated the agenda of the eighth round of talks between the US and the Taliban.
Mr. Khalilzad in a tweet on Wednesday condemned Taliban attack on PD6 police headquarters in Kabul that killed 14 people and wounded over 145 others.
“The focus should be on immediately reducing violence as we move closer to intra-Afghan negotiations that will produce a political roadmap and a permanent ceasefire”.
