Peace convoy arrives in Afghan capital after 40-day march

KABUL – Dozens of Afghans arrived in the capital on Monday after trekking across the country on foot calling for an end to the 17-year war.

The Helmand Peace Convoy reached Kabul after travelling more than 500 kilometres (300 miles) over nearly 40 days. The march began in the southern city of Lashkar Gah, in the Helmand province, an area largely under Taliban control.

The protest march began with a group of nine men and picked up supporters during the long journey. They arrived in Kabul after a three-day holiday cease-fire brought rare calm to most of the country.

The government had offered to extend the cease-fire for another ten days, but the Taliban announced Sunday that they would resume their attacks.

In the eastern Nangarhar province, gunmen shot and killed a district governor and his bodyguard, according to Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor. No one claimed the attack.

Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar province, was hit by two suicide bombings in as many days over the weekend that targeted Afghans, including Taliban fighters, who were celebrating the Eid al-Fitr holiday and the cease-fire. The bombings are believed to have been carried out by the Islamic State group’s local affiliate, which was not included in the cease-fire.