Violence eases during Peace Day

The United Nations said guns fell silent across much of Afghanistan for an International Peace Day that saw pledges by the U.S., NATO, the Afghan government and the Taliban to halt attacks.

Violence still marred the day, however. A Taliban attack killed two guards in Ghazni province, and in Herat province, a battle that began Saturday continued.

Still, the U.N. said tens of thousands of international troops, Afghan soldiers and Taliban militants “all stood down from offensive military operations in support of” International Peace Day. Most officials around the country reported no violence.