The Helmand hunger strike, by at least 30 activists calling for peace, has ended after Ulema council members intervened, officials confirmed.

The activists embarked on a hunger strike on Thursday after their demands for a ceasefire were rejected by both government and the Taliban.

This comes after at least six hunger strikers were hospitalized on Friday night and Saturday, Lashkargah health officials confirmed.

The hunger strike started after both government and the Taliban failed to agree to their ceasefire demands. 

The protestors had been holding a sit-in peace rally in Lashkargah city since Monday, following a deadly car bombing that killed at least 16 people after a wrestling match at a local stadium last weekend, when they decided to start the hunger strike.

Some Kabul residents meanwhile announced their support to the peace rally in the province.