Eid al-Adha Prayer Led by Taliban’s Leader in Kandahar, Announces Mujahid
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, announced that the Eid al-Adha prayer was led by Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group's leader, in Kandahar on Monday.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, announced that the Eid al-Adha prayer was led by Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the group's leader, in Kandahar on Monday.
Mujahid stated that thousands of people attended the prayer. However, no images of the Taliban leader at the ceremony have been released.
During previous Eid celebrations too, the Taliban had reported that their leader led the Eid prayer in Kandahar, but no images have been published till now.
Unlike Saudi Arabia, the Taliban declared Monday, as Eid. The difference in the announcement of Eid dates by the Taliban and Saudi Arabia has sparked widespread reactions on social media.
Ali Bagheri, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, announced on Sunday evening his first telephone conversation with the Taliban's Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi.
Bagheri emphasised on the Taliban's close ties with regional countries and stated that the Taliban would not permit foreign actors, responsible for the current situation in Afghanistan, to interfere.
Bagheri assumed leadership of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs after Amir Hossein Abdollahian, the country foreign minister was killed in an air accident.
Nearly a month after Bagheri's appointment, this marks his first official contact with the Taliban's Foreign Minister. Notably, the Taliban did not send a representative to the recent Tehran meeting on Afghanistan.
During his conversation with Muttaqi, Bagheri stressed on the importance of strengthening the Taliban's relations with regional countries and distancing themselves from Western nations.
He wrote on his X account, "The people of Afghanistan are the primary decision-makers for their country, in cooperation with neighbouring and regional countries. They do not allow intervention from foreign actors who have a history of destructive interventions and are responsible for the current problems."
Bagheri added that the Islamic Republic and the Taliban, given the "civilisational and cultural commonalities" of the two countries, "strive in cooperation and coordination to maintain regional stability and security”.
Following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Iran has been one of the major regional countries that has continuously improved its relations with the Taliban. However, Tehran has not responded positively to the Taliban's main demand for diplomatic recognition.
On the verge of the third Doha meeting, Zhao Xing, China's ambassador to Afghanistan, announced that he had met with Markus Potzel, UN Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan.
Xing stated that the meeting focused on enhancing cooperation with Afghanistan. On Sunday, the ambassador wrote on the social media platform X: "Great pleasure to meet with DSRSG for Afghanistan Markus Potzel and exchange views on strengthening China and the United Nations' cooperation in Afghanistan and the third meeting of Special Envoys and Special Representatives on Afghanistan."
The Chinese ambassador had previously met and discussed the third Doha meeting with Tomas Niklasson, the European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan.
Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson confirmed to the media that their representatives will participate in the third Doha meeting.
The third Doha meeting, hosted by the United Nations, is expected to take place in Qatar on June 30 and July 1. Special representatives from regional and international players are expected to participate in the upcoming meeting.
China is one of the few countries that has established close relations with the Taliban following their takeover of power in Afghanistan, signing multiple agreements with the group in the country's mining sector.
The National Resistance Council for the Salvation of Afghanistan (NRCA), in a statement on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, criticised the Taliban's actions, declaring, "There is only one way left, and that is resistance against the Taliban."
The council called on political and military groups opposing the Taliban to unite in the fight against them. On Saturday, June 15, the NRCA stated that Afghanistan under Taliban rule lacks a legitimate and legal system.
According to the council, this year’s Eid al-Adha is celebrated while the Taliban have deprived women and girls of all basic human rights, especially the rights to education and work. The statement added that, in addition to depriving women and girls of their basic human rights, the Taliban have continued "killings, torture, and usurpation of people's property."
The council urged regional and global powers, which have so far engaged in one-sided interactions with the Taliban, to reconsider their approach. The NRCA warned countries currently signing various economic agreements with the Taliban that these contracts are illegal and illegitimate, and that the Taliban use the benefits from these contracts to promote violence and foster terrorism.
The council emphasised that stability and peace in Afghanistan can only be achieved through a government founded on public will and free, fair elections. The council also called on Afghanistan's neighbouring countries to refrain from forcibly expelling Afghan migrants and to wait until conditions for a peaceful and humane existence are established in Afghanistan.
Israel’s Army Radio, citing the Al-Akhbar newspaper, reported that the Taliban have assured Iran that in the event of a severe war between Israel and Hezbollah, they will send thousands of fighters to Lebanon.
Recently, Iran's ambassador in Kabul declared Afghanistan a part of the "axis of resistance" and mentioned that "martyrdom" forces from Afghanistan would go to Gaza if needed.
Al-Akhbar, a newspaper affiliated with Hezbollah in Lebanon, reported that Taliban leaders have promised Iranian officials to send fighters to Lebanon in support of Hezbollah against Israel.
Following Israel's military attack on the Gaza Strip, Hezbollah has clashed with the Israeli army, with the conflict intensifying in recent days. Like Hamas, Hezbollah is a militia group supported by Iran.
In recent months, Taliban leaders and Hamas have held several meetings, with the Taliban expressing support for Palestinian militant groups against Israel.
In February, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, Iran's special representative for Afghanistan, stated that although Afghanistan is not close to Gaza, it is part of the "axis of resistance."
Iran refers to groups it supports and others fighting against the Western coalition and Israel as the "axis of resistance."
Qomi's statements sparked widespread reactions in Afghanistan. On 8 February 2024, Al-Mirsad, a media outlet affiliated with Taliban intelligence agency, challenged Iran's regional policy, questioning why Iran does not order Hezbollah to fight directly against Israel "instead of killing Sunnis in Syria."
Husam Badran, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said in an interview with the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency in February that the Afghans’ jihad and the Taliban's victory in Afghanistan have been inspiring for Hamas.
The Taliban and Iran have maintained close relations, with Iranian and Taliban officials travelling between Kabul and Tehran numerous times over the past three years.
The Shahadat newspaper, the official publication of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hizbe Islami reported with images that the Eid prayer was held on Sunday, at the "Islamic Party Grand Mosque" in Pakistan.
The Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani government had declared Sunday as Arafah and Monday as Eid.
Shahadat posted a video on the social platform X, stating that "thousands" of people performed the Eid prayer at the Islamic Party Grand Mosque. The images show a large number of worshipers engaged in prayer.
The Shahadat newspaper did not mention the exact location of the prayer, but some sources indicated that the mosque is located in the Shamshato Camp in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Unlike Saudi Arabia, the Taliban declared Sunday as Arafah and Monday as Eid. This decision has elicited numerous reactions from politicians and citizens on social networks.
The Taliban declared Monday as Eid, even though several senior officials of the group who are on pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia celebrated Eid on Sunday. Some users have pointed out this "contradiction" in the Taliban's announcement of the Eid day.