KABUL, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Afghans from all walks of life have welcomed the seven-day "reduction in violence" agreed in the U.S.-Taliban talks as a major step towards achieving ceasefire in the country.
"Reduction in violence as agreed in the U.S.-Taliban lengthy talks and nodded by government is a welcoming step towards a major ceasefire by the warring sides in the country," a resident of the northern Jawzjan province, Mohammad Sediq Arbab, told Xinhua on Saturday.
"Since the observance of violence reduction early Saturday we have no report on violent incident in Jawzjan province and this is a welcome step for everyone living in the province," Arbab added.
Both the Taliban and the U.S. side after nearly 18 months of marathon talks in Qatar capital Doha agreed to observe seven-day "violence reduction" in Afghanistan, which started from the beginning of Saturday.
The observance is precondition for a peace deal between the United States and the Taliban which is set to be inked on Feb. 29 to end the 18-year war in Afghanistan and paves the way for the withdrawal of the United States-led forces from the country.
Contrary to the past, the Taliban militants have allowed the cellular companies to operate at night in Jawzjan and the neighboring Faryab and Sari Pul provinces since observing the so-called violence reduction, according to locals.
Afghan acting Interior Minister Massoud Andarabi has stated that the security forces would remain in high alert during the seven-day violence reduction and won't take any action unless attacked.
"I am very happy that the Taliban allowed the cellular companies to operate at night and I had conversations with my relatives in the neighboring provinces last night," Farida Amini, a resident of Faryab province, told Xinhua joyfully.
Expressing similar sense of happiness, a farmer from the northern Baghlan province, Abdul Hai said, "It is a matter of delight for everyone that after years of war, we have at least reduction in violence for a few days and I am hopeful the step lead to permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan."
"Reduction in violence would facilitate us to work day and night without any fear and I am hopeful to witness enduring truce and lasting peace in Afghanistan," Akbar Shah, a driver working on Kabul-Baghlan highway, told Xinhua.
Appreciating the reduction in violence as a partial truce, Hajji Mirwais, 32, from the southern Kandahar province, told Xinhua with joy, "This is the first time in my life that I had a peaceful sleep and I am hopeful the agreement turn into a lasting peace."
People in Kunduz province have also welcomed the violence reduction deal as a step towards achieving peace and so far no violent incidents have been reported from across the conflict-battered Afghanistan.
