"Incredible scenes not only in Kabul but across Afghanistan today. On the second day of an ...

"Incredible scenes not only in Kabul but across Afghanistan today. On the second day of an overlap in unilateral ceasefires ordered by the Afghan government and Taliban leadership, respectively, members of the Taliban and their supporters entered Kabul openly for the first time since their withdrawal in 2001. Leaving their weapons at the gates of the Afghan capital they were welcomed by crowds of waving and cheering residents. Some carried the unmistakeable white Taliban flag, others carried the Afghan tri-colour. A few flew both. The three Taliban on this bike in the Kota-e Sangi neighbourhood in western Kabul were mobbed by residents and onlookers, most of whom wanted to take home proof that they were there with by way of a selfie. I wasn’t in a position to ask where they were from, or anything else for that matter, but like most Talibs in Kabul’s West, they had come from further in that direction, most likely from neighbouring Wardak Province. The scenes were unprecedented in Kabul and for the rest of the country. It was the first dual ceasefire since the Taliban was ousted from power by the U.S.-led coalition in 2001. The triumph of the day was, however, marred by a horrific suicide bombing in Nangarhar Province. The attack, which targeted Afghan National Security Forces and Taliban fighters who had met in Rodat District to celebrate both Eid ul-Fitr and the ceasefire, was claimed by the so-called Islamic State Khorasan Province. More than 20 were killed and as many as 50 wounded. If there is a positive to come from the attack, with ISKP being the enemy of both the Taliban and the Afghan government, perhaps it will provide an opportunity for unified grief and outrage. At day's end, in spite of the attack in Nangarhar, President Ashraf Ghani declared an indefinite unilateral ceasefire would continue at the end of the initial seven day period he declared in the lead-up to the Eid holiday. The Taliban are yet to respond."