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On the politics of eid from Kabul to Kashmir: 1/n
For much of the day, Pakistan’s minister for science & tech and the cleric in-charge of moon sighting sparred over moon sighting: https://twitter.com/salmanmasood/status/1264118106412191744
In the end, it seems like the testimony of a general on moon sighting settled it (I mean, of course): https://twitter.com/hidhussain/status/1264244441969278977
In Afghanistan, after Pakistan‘s eid announcement, the Afghan Taliban announced a unilateral ceasefire. Kind of last minute, imo. https://twitter.com/zabehulah_m33/status/1264273107784695809
It could be due to social pressure on the Taliban — eid is desired by many as a “day of restraint”, as argued in this nice APSR study by Reese, Ruby, Pape: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/american-political-science-review/article/days-of-action-or-restraint-how-the-islamic-calendar-impacts-violence/E20A17A254F769D44E0887D0FD1F507B
Or equally plausible that some phone calls/messages/pleas/threats were exchanged in this order: Khalilzad -> Bajwa -> Hibatullah: https://pk.usembassy.gov/statement-on-the-visit-to-pakistan-by-ambassador-khalilzad/
Either way, the Afghan President has reciprocated Taliban’s ceasefire by asking ANDSF to hold fire: https://twitter.com/ashrafghani/status/1264272518166298627
Meanwhile, Kashmir waited with bated breadth on the announcement from Pakistan: https://twitter.com/jameelyusuf/status/1264253464055623680
...and defying Indian government’s eid announcement for Monday, the grand mufti of Kashmir endorsed Sunday’s eid: https://twitter.com/jameelyusuf/status/1264260442555183105
Meanwhile, ICYMI, eid is not on the minds of the Chinese government: https://twitter.com/ajaishukla/status/1264019989859721216
Ok end of thread. Eid Mubarik to all. n/n
