FARAH CITY(SW): Authorities in south western Farah province have estimated that some 6500 insurgents are active in this part of the country.
Mohammad Asif Nang, Governor of Farah, in an exclusive interview told Salam Watandar that the province has a high number of insurgents against a very low number of security forces among western provinces in the country.
He said that despite this, the province has relatively stable security situation.
Out of 10 districts in the province, according to the governor, insurgency was evident in three districts while two other districts were faced with serious threats from the rebels. The governor added that fighting between security forces and the Taliban were taking place almost every day in Balablok, Khak-e-Safid and Posthrod districts but Bakwa and Gulistan districts were under serious threat.
He further said that over the past 10 months, 62 operations have been conducted aimed at reclaiming areas from the Taliban’ control but the operations have so far not been successful. Nang said that in recent months, Daesh fighters have also been active in Khak-e-Safid district along with the Taliban.
The governor dubbed Daesh as an outdated force in Afghanistan, especially in Farah and said that such groups would have no place in the province. Mohammad Asif Nang also complained that the Kabul government has paid no attention in addressing the poverty in this province.
Humaira Ayoubi, Farah Representative in the Wolesi Jirga (lower house), however believes that the province, due to its wide area and less number of security forces, has never experienced good security in the past 14 years. She told Salam Watandar that the Taliban have always been active in some of the districts.
Humaira Ayubi said that the government has paid no attention to the security of the province.
The WJ member added that the insurgents have had full control over Balablok, Khak-e-Safid and Bukwa districts in the province. She said that apart from the center of Gulistan district, the surrounding areas of this district too were under the Taliban’s control.
She mentioned that the government provides foodstuff to the security forces in this district via air because it was too afraid supplying them via highways.
Some officials argue that since Farah shares border with restive Helmand province, rebels find it easy to enter and destabilize it.
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