Afghanistan celebrates Eid al-Adha amid tight security, economic hardships

KABUL Afghanistan - Afghans celebrated Eid al-Adha on Wednesday, one of the largest annual religious festivals observed by Muslims worldwide, amid tight security.

"In terms of security, criminal activities, including theft and robbery, have been drastically reduced, and people are living in a peaceful environment," Kabul resident Naqibullah told Xinhua.

Naqibullah, while attending the local mosque to partake in the Eid al-Adha prayer, expressed gratitude towards the establishment for stabilizing peace and security, saying the first day of Eid began with peace.

"People have been living in peace, and we started the first day of Eid in a peaceful environment, and after Eid prayers, we visited friends and relatives in their houses," Naqibullah said.

Nonetheless, Naqibullah, who is a shopkeeper, was critical of the economic situation in the war-torn country.

"It is crystal clear that Afghans have been suffering from economic hardships. The economic situation is harsh," he added.

The shopkeeper claimed that the profit he earned from his business compared to previous years has dropped by 80 percent as the increasing poverty has devoured the purchasing power of the citizens.

Like Naqibullah, many Afghans are skeptical regarding the prospects of economic recovery and the betterment of living conditions, as the rates of unemployment and poverty have both increased.

More than 28 million Afghans, or two-thirds of Afghanistan's population, according to aid agencies' reports, are facing food insecurity.

"Our economy is weak, but we are hopeful of overcoming the hardships gradually," another Kabul resident Hajji Mohammad Hussain told Xinhua.

"Our demand from the caretaker government is to create job opportunities," Hussain stated.

However, Hussain expressed satisfaction over the security situation, saying, "This was the first time that we had offered our Eid prayers with compatriots without unexpected incidents." The security personnel had been deployed at the gate of all the mosques and checked anyone who entered the mosque as part of security measures to ensure the safety of the worshippers.

Hussain added, "Although I could not buy the necessary goods to celebrate the Eid holidays, I am happy to enjoy peace." - XINHUA