Both the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the U.S.-led Coalition forces based in Afghanistan passed a peaceful Christmas Day on Thursday in the conservative post-Taliban nation as no major violent incidents has been reported.
Based in Bagram, 50 km north of Afghan capital Kabul, the Headquarters of U.S. army in the post-Taliban nation celebrated the festival amid tight security.
The casualties that the international troops have received were the killing of two soldiers including Briton in the restive Helmand province on the eve of Christmas Day on Wednesday while the other one lost his life in the eastern part of Afghanistan.
The soldier, who took part in a combat operation near Helmand's provincial capital Lashkar Gah, according to British sources, was killed during a gun battle with the insurgents.
A home to more than 3,300 British troops, the poppy growing Helmand province in south Afghanistan is a hotbed to Taliban insurgents since their regime's collapse by the U.S.-led military alliance in late 2001.
Christmas Day is not celebrated in the conservative Afghanistan. However, Afghan youth by sending cards and e-mails congratulate the Day to their foreign friends, colleagues and partners and wish them happy Christmas.
Nevertheless, the Kabul-based western diplomats and international agencies as well as over 70,000-strong international troops often celebrate the Day privately in their compounds and military bases.
Taliban militants, who have announced Jihad or holy war against the international troops, contrary to expectations have shown little activities on the Day.
Spiraling Taliban-linked militancy mostly in the shape of suicide attacks and roadside bombings as well as protracted skirmishes have claimed the lives of more than 5,000 people so far this year in Afghanistan.
Source:Xinhua
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