KANDAHAR
\nAfghanistan\u2019s supreme leader appeared publicly for only the second time in six years on Sunday, telling worshippers celebrating Eid Al-Fitr the Taliban had achieved freedom and security since seizing power last year.
\nSpeaking just days after a bomb ripped through a mosque in Kabul, an atmosphere of heightened security surrounded the man introduced as Hibatullah Akhundzada.
\n\u201cCongratulations on victory, freedom and success,\u201d he told thousands of worshippers at the Eidgah mosque in the southern city of Kandahar, the hardline Islamist group\u2019s de facto power center.
\n\u201cCongratulations on this security and for the Islamic system.\u201d
\nWhile the number of bombings across the country has dropped since Kabul fell to the Taliban last August, attacks soared over the final two weeks of the fasting month of Ramadan, which ended Saturday for Afghans.
\nDozens of civilians have been killed in the primarily sectarian attacks \u2014 some claimed by the Daesh group \u2014 targeting members of the Shiite and Sufi Muslim communities. Friday\u2019s bombing in the capital killed at least 10.
\nAkhundzada delivered his brief address from one of the front rows of worshippers in Kandahar without turning to face the crowd, according to social media posts. Taliban officials did not allow journalists to approach him, an AFP correspondent reported.
\nTwo helicopters hovered over the mosque for the whole of the two-hour event.
\nIt was Akhundzada\u2019s second known public appearance since taking control of the Taliban in 2016.
\nIn October, he had visited the Darul Uloom Hakimiah mosque in Kandahar, according to an audio recording circulated by Taliban social media accounts.
\nAkhundzada\u2019s low profile has fed speculation about his role in the new Taliban government, formed after the group took control of Kabul on August 15 \u2014 and even rumors of his death.
\nHis public profile has largely been limited to the release of messages during Islamic holidays, and Akhundzada is believed to spend most of his time in Kandahar.
\nOn Friday, in a message released ahead of Eid Al-Fitr, he made no mention of the bloodshed that had rocked Afghanistan over Ramadan, instead praising the Taliban\u2019s building of \u201ca strong Islamic and national army\u201d and \u201cstrong intelligence organization.\u201d
\nOn Sunday, many Afghans preferred to stay indoors after the recent deadly attacks. \u201cThe situation of our people is very sad, especially after what happened in the mosques,\u201d Kabul resident Ahmad Shah Hashemi told AFP.
\n\u201cMany young and old people have been martyred. The people of Afghanistan have nothing but sorrow.\u201d
\nThe deadliest attack during Ramadan was in the northern province of Kunduz, where a bomb ripped through a mosque as a group of Sufis performed rituals.
\nAt least 36 people were killed and scores more were wounded. No group has so far claimed that attack.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KANDAHAR Afghanistan\u2019s supreme leader appeared publicly for only the second time in six years on Sunday, telling worshippers celebrating Eid Al-Fitr the Taliban had achieved freedom and security since seizing power last year. Speaking just days after a bomb ripped through a mosque in Kabul, an atmosphere of heightened security surrounded the man introduced as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":258570,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[6751,6750,6752],"class_list":{"0":"post-258533","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-afghan-leader","9":"tag-eid-al-fitr","10":"tag-rare-appearance"},"yoast_head":"\n