Afghans offer Eid prayers in peaceful environment

Afghan civilians Monday offered Eid prayers to celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan amidst tight security but in a peaceful environment across the country.

President Hamid Karzai offered Eid prayer in the mosque of the Presidential Palace or the Arg in Kabul, which was also attended by civil and military officials, Xinhua reported.

"I am calling upon the Taliban leaders to give up fighting against Afghans and not to facilitate the incursion of foreign terrorists to Afghanistan," President Karzai said after offering his prayer.

He also called upon Taliban fighters to join the peace process and rejoin their families to resume an honourable life.

The president made the call to Taliban militants amid increasing militancy in the country.

Eid-ul-Fitr is a three-day public holiday in Afghanistan.

To ensure a peaceful environment, police have been checking all cars and suspicious people entering Kabul and other cities, since Saturday.

No report of violence has been reported from other cities of the conflict-ridden Afghanistan.

According to the security officials, people offered Eid prayers in a peaceful environment in big cities, including Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad and Mazar-e-Sharif.