Afghanistan president calmly prays amid rocket attack, video shows
Unsettling footage shows the Afghan president calmly praying with a group of men Tuesday as rockets explode around them.
President Ashraf Ghani was worshiping in the presidential palace compound in Kabul to celebrate the start of Eid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday, around 8 a.m. when at least three rockets landed outside the heavily fortified grounds, according to Al Jazeera.
A barrage of missiles can be heard whizzing and loudly exploding near the palace, as the men continue to peacefully pray — without reacting to the nearby chaos, the shocking 30-second TV clip shows.
No one was injured by the rockets, and nobody claimed responsibility for them.
The palace sits in a fortified area protected by large cement walls and barbed wire.
After the attacks, Ghani blasted the Taliban in a speech marking the start of the major Muslim festival.
“This Eid has been named after Afghan forces to honor their sacrifices and courage, especially in the last three months,” the president said.
“The Taliban have no intention and willingness for peace,” he added. “We have proven that we have the intention, the willingness and have sacrificed for peace.”
The rocket attacks came as the United States and NATO complete their final withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan, after a decades-long war.
The Afghan withdrawal is more than 95 percent finished, and all US soldiers will be out of the country by Aug. 31, President Biden said earlier this month.
But the recent resurgence of the Taliban, and concerns about the US troop withdrawal, have caused thousands of Afghans to flee the war-torn nation.
On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced plans to evacuate Afghans who helped US soldiers while fighting the Taliban.
With Post wires
