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SHEBERGHAN (SW) – In a bid to meet the families reeling from the persecution by the Taliban in Jawzjan’s restive districts, I began the journey early in the morning.
One grieving mother, Sharafat, resting next to a wall shared the troubling ordeal of her young son. She said the Taliban brainwashed him in Pakistan. Upon return to Afghanistan, my son is seeing everyone here as infidel, and wants to chop off everyone’s head, she lamented.
She claimed different sorts of injections have been administered to his son in Pakistan who is not in sound state of mind since his return to Afghanistan.
In a bid to further explore the issue, I moved ahead.
Another local, Khair Mohammad, shared with me the tale of 10 young children who were trained by the terrorists for terrorist attacks. He said the rebels manipulate these children in the absence of their parents. After a chat with Khair Mohammad, I travelled onward to the Mardeyan. The clear destruction here depicted grim picture of the devastation this part of Jawzjan has went through.
48-year-old Allah Berdi, said the Taliban have no mercy for anyone. He said the rebels do not hesitate in exploiting children and young men for their terrorist activities. With streams of tears pouring on his face, he demanded the government to have merci on the youth of Jawzjan.
After a long and difficult journey, I reached back to the provincial capital, Sheberghan, to have the views of the security officials.
Kamaluddin Yawar, director security at the provincial police headquarters, told me that the Taliban are indeed recruiting minors for suicide attacks. He, however, clarified there are no documented proofs available to back this claim.
However, the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahed, has rejected the allegations of brainwashing and recruiting minors for fighting.
ENDS
