Hundreds of Afghan peace marchers arrived in the capital, Kabul, on Monday after spending the fasting month of Ramadan crossing the sun-baked, war-torn country, much of it under Taliban control.In fact they were demanding for end to decade- old fighting and bloodshed.
They were also asking NATO troops to stop militarism and leaveAfghanistan.
The marchers, all men, including teachers, students and war victims on crutches and one in a wheelchair, were welcomed along the way by village women carrying the holy Koran, men offering bread and yoghurt, some in tears.
"I saw and learnt things that I had never thought of before," said Iqbal Khayber, 27, a medical student from Helmand.
"We met people in areas controlled by the Taliban and in areas under government control - everyone is really tired of war."
The march was triggered by a car bomb in Helmand on March 23 that killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens. No group claimed responsibility.
Mr Khayber said the marchers, varying in number from day to day, would take main roads and sometimes turn into villages, choosing dangerous areas on purpose to try to confront people's fear.
Before Ramadan, the marchers were walking 30 to 35 km (18 to 20 miles) a day, but during the fasting month, when they could not take food or water during daylight hours, they slowed to 20 to 25 km per day.
In one area of Ghazni province, they were told by the Taliban not to enter an area because it was too dangerous. "We met Taliban fighters and after an introduction, they told us we shouldn't have come here because the area is planted with bombs and they had planned an attack. "After minutes of discussion with them, they seemed tired of it all, and the war. They directed us back to the safest area."
In Ghazni on Sunday, the Taliban took six soldiers hostage, the governor's office said on Monday. The Taliban denied the accusation and said the six had defected.
An acting district governor in Nangarhar province in the east was killed on Monday. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
Afghanistan has been at war for four decades, ever since the Soviet invasion in 1979. Both the government and the militants declared temporary ceasefires for the end-of-Ramadan Eid al-Fitr holiday.
The Taliban ceasefire ended on Sunday. The government extended its ceasefire with the Taliban, which had been due to end on Wednesday, June 20, by 10 days.
