TALUQAN (SW) – Dozens of Afghan Border Police members have fled the border positions in Takhar’s Dasht-e-Qala district owing to the Taliban assaults, an official confirmed.
For a week, the ABP men at the Aai Khanum dry port were under the siege of the Taliban. But, when the Special Forces of the Afghan National Army conducted intense clean-up operation here, the insurgents fled the area. However, only a day after the operation, the Taliban returned.
Ewaz Mohammad, an officer of the ABP in the area, told Salam Watandar the security forces have relocated to the district center. He confirmed some 60 ABP men are now stationed in the district center.
Sources told Salam Watandar the district police chief initially did not allow the fleeing ABP men to take shelter in the police headquarters, and urged the security forces to either fight the insurgents in the Aai Khanum dry port or face court-martial.
The locals are profoundly concerned over the Taliban taking positions at the dry port and posing threat to the district center as well.
The police chief, Hashmat Muslim, declined to comment. Jawad Hijri, spokesman for the provincial governor, said additional troops have been sent to Dasht-e-Qala.
A number of Dasht-e-Qala residents and security forces have reportedly fled the area out of fear for their lives.
ENDS
