“During Ramadan, both fasting and acts of charity are incumbent upon Muslims who are able to do so, in order to gain a clearer appreciation of human suffering.” — BD News
“The month of Ramadan is a month of holy war and death for Allah. It is a month for fighting the enemies of Allah and God’s messenger, the Jews and their American facilitators.” — Qaedat al-Jihad
“Taliban Mount Attacks After Deal, Killing 17 During Ramadan,” by Eltaf Najafizada, Bloomberg, May 3, 2020:
Afghan Taliban insurgents killed 17 civilians and wounded 49 during the first week of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, further chipping away at their pledge to reduce violence following a peace deal with the U.S.
The fatalities occurred from April 24, Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the National Security Council of Afghanistan, said on Twitter. Most of the casualties were caused by roadside bombs and direct fire, he added.
The peace agreement signed in February was meant to pave the way for the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan within 14 months. But while attacks on the U.S.-led coalition have ceased, the Taliban almost immediately began mounting assaults on Afghan rural areas.
Separate data from the National Security Council show that 337 civilians have been killed, 452 wounded and 164 abducted in the two months since the signing. “Taliban have failed to live up to their commitment to remain peaceful. They increased their campaign of terror immediately and harmed 100s of Afghan men, women and children,” Faisal tweeted….
The government has so far released 650 militants, most recently on Saturday. The Taliban freed 112 Afghan soldiers and policemen as of May 1. The U.S. has criticized the slow process and warned it could cause more losses.
“Both the Taliban and the government need to accelerate efforts to release prisoners and lower violence, which is the fastest means to intra-Afghan negotiations and a comprehensive permanent ceasefire,” the U.S. special envoy for Afghan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, said on Twitter on Saturday.
Don’t hold your breath, Zalmay.