SAR-I-PUL (SW): Growing influence of the Taliban and divisions among the Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Sar-i-Pul province have added to the woes of locals in this part of the country.
Ever since the fall of a number of check posts to the Taliban in Kohistanat district, the militants are spreading their clout in the province. A number of provincial council members have expressed grim concerns over it.
Mohammad Noor Rehmani, chief o the provincial council told Salam Watandar that following the fall of Kohistanat district, the rebels have brought here a number of military trainers and have established training camps that pose serious threat to the whole province. He added that the Taliban have also divided the ALP men, and are using them for their own interests now. “They have landmines and other resources with them that pose serious threat to the province. The Taliban have also made a number of ALP commanders loyal to them that has added to the problems”, he said.
Residents in the Kohistanat district are anxious about the abundance of recently planted landmines in the district. Gul Ahmad, a local told Salam Watandar that the government should regulat and vividly monitor the activities of the ALP men as well. Najibullah, another resident of the restive district feared that all ALP men might have collaborated with up to 3000 Taliban militants present here.
Zabehullah Amani, spokesman for the provincial governor said in this regard that the Taliban overrun those check posts in Kohistanat that were vacated by the ALP men. He however, expressed resolve to held the responsible men accountable, and reform the ALP in the province.
ENDS
