New Delhi

As the public resistance against Taliban spread across many cities of Afghanistan with people taking out night vigils in support of the Armed forces and chanting Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest), the militant group has objected to this slogan.

The Taliban was quoted by Tolo News of Afghanistan as claiming Allahu Akbar is the slogan of the fighters’ group and other must not use it. It issued a strict warning to those abusing the slogan and said “they will be held accountable”.

Taliban has been repulsed from taking control of historic city of Heart, the first big city the group was trying to take over. The public resistance started from this place as thousands of locals took out marches in the night in support of the Afghan National Defence Security Forces (ANDSF). forces.

According to Tolo News the processions have spread to Kapisa, Baghlan, Nuristan and Sar-e-Pul provinces. 

A scene from a protest in an Afghan city posted on twitter:

This is the #spirit of #Afghans, strong, courageous young man marching against violence, against injustice, against proxy war! Taliban will NEVER win with violence & can not rule with #Pakistan backing! https://t.co/415gpcER00

— Heela هیله نجیب الله (@HNajibullah) August 3, 2021

Afghan religious scholar told the Tolo News that chanting Allahu Akbar was important to “separate the evil from the truth” and to boost the morale of the ANDSF in their campaign against the militants.

They said those chanting slogans are Muslims too and the Taliban has no right to monopolise the name of Allah.

This outpouring of support for the security forces began on Monday night in the city of Herat, in western Afghanistan, which has seen fierce fighting over the past few weeks and resisted Taliban attacks against Herat city over the past week. 

The campaign comes as Afghan security forces are fighting the Taliban in multiple areas across the country.

In capital Kabul, thousands were protesting on the streets of Kabul, scores of others, including women and children, were roaring the chants from their rooftops and the remaining were raising slogans using the loudspeakers of mosques.

Kunar and Nangarhar provinces in eastern Afghanistan and Khost in southeastern Afghanistan also witnessed rallies raising 'Allahu Akbar' slogans in support of ANDSF and opposing the Taliban.

In Khost province, apart from the hundreds of people who gathered on the streets, Mullahs (religious preachers) were chanting the slogan through the loudspeakers of mosques.

President Ashraf Ghani had said on Tuesday that the chants imply who is respecting the sacred call and who is fulfilling the commandments of Allah. He also accused the Taliban of killing innocent Afghans, media reports said.

First Vice President Amrullah Saleh was seen among the crowds in Kabul, chanting Allahu Akbar.

"This slogan reflects the voice of the Afghan nation, this slogan needs to be raised in support of peace in the country, not for massacres and creating chaos," said a resident of Kabul.

People in other areas of Afghanistan, including Nangarhar, Badakhshan and Takhar provinces, also chanted the slogan to announce their support for the security forces.

"We raised the slogan Allahu Akbar.in Jalalabad and this slogan will be chanted across Afghanistan. We will support our security forces and fight together with them in the trenches if needed," said Raz Mohammad Imranzai, a resident of Jalalabad city, media reports said.