The Taliban's supreme leader has made a brief public appearance leading thousands of pilgrims in Eid al-Fitr prayers, an Afghan government spokesman said.
Haibatullah Akhundzada has made only a handful of public appearances since succeeding the Taliban in 2016 and bringing the movement back to power with the withdrawal of US forces in 2021.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the prayer at Kandahar's largest mosque was "conducted under the leadership of the supreme leader."
The early morning service "was attended by thousands of compatriots" in the southern province, considered the birthplace of the Taliban movement.
Only one photograph of Akhundzada exists. The press is generally barred from attending his public appearances, and Afghans in attendance are prohibited from taking pictures or recording with their phones.
He previously appeared in Kandahar on the occasion of the 2022 holiday with a speech in which he congratulated Afghans "for victory, freedom and success", with his back to the crowd to preserve his anonymity.
The bearded Taliban "emir" rules by decree from Kandahar and has issued a series of orders imposing his harsh vision of Islam since the fall of the Western-backed government.
Kabul's Ministry of Religious Affairs issued instructions that imams across Afghanistan should read aloud the message published by Akhundzada at the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
In it, Akhundzada calls on Afghans to abide by Sharia law and calls for good relations with the international community.
"Injustice and opposition to Sharia leads to insecurity," the statement said.
In the capital Kabul, the third Razamaz Bayram holiday under Taliban rule was marked amid heightened security.
As morning prayers began, additional checkpoints were set up around mosques, police and Taliban government security forces were deployed, and mobile phone signals were cut.
Security forces prevented AFP journalists from recording the services at many locations in Kabul.
Nevertheless, pilgrims gathered in their thousands, taking to the streets, and the mosques were packed to capacity. /BGNES
