Uruzganis celebrate Nawroz festival in frontline village

Monitoring Desk

TIRINKOT: The residents of central Uruzgan province celebrated the day one of the annual festival Nawroz or new year in the frontline village of Shah Mansoor in the provincial capital. Uruzgan has been the scene of bloody clashes between security forces and Taliban insurgents over the two years. The Taliban have been in control of many areas in districts and the provincial capital, Tirinkot.

The first day of Nawroz festival — a large number of residents celebrated the day in Shah Mansoor, a frontline village. Shah Mansoor village was with the Taliban five months ago but now it serves at the front line of the war between the two sides.

Sardar Wali, a resident of Tirinkot, said he was happy celebrating the new year in a village which had been under the Taliban five months ago.

He urged both the warring sides to announce ceasefire and retreat from people’s lands and properties in order the displaced families could return.

Bari Dad in Shah Mansoour village told Pajhwok that hundreds of youth arrived in the frontline village to celebrate the new year because they had other palace to visit. He said the provincial capital, Tirinkot, remained besieged by the rebels. The resident urged the Taliban to renounce violence and joint the government peace process.

On Thursday, the second day of Nawroz festival, children and elderly people were also seen arriving in the Shah Mansoor village to celebrate the new year. A security official in the area, Malak Zainullah, said a few months ago when the village was with the Taliban local people were unable to come out and hold such a gathering.