BALKH (SW): Amid tensions over the announcement of the resignation of Atta Mohammad Noor, former governor of Balkh, by Arg (Presidential Palace), Qultaq village, 10 kilometers from the center of the district “Dawlatabad”, fell in the hands of the Taliban.
Although the security forces recaptured the village back from Taliban after 10 hours, the Mayor of Dawlatabad, Mohammad Karim, expressed his concern over the weak morale of the security forces in the district amid tensions between the former Balkh governor and the government.
According to Dawlatabad Mayor, 9 villages are under the control of the armed anti-government groups. A number of tribal elders in the district of Dawlatabad also said that Taliban control most areas of this district during nights.
Qahar Khan, a resident of Dawlatabad district who has been talking to Taliban on behalf of the residents of Dawlatabad, informed of nearly 100 armed Taliban with heavy arms in Dawlatabad district.
Abdul Razaq Qaderi, deputy security chief of the Balkh Police, reported the recapturing of Dawlatabad district and said that two of the “people’s uprising” soldiers disappeared during the Taliban rebellion and still they do not know about their whereabouts.
Mr. Qaderi also reported the capture of 19 Taliban members in a special security operation in Chamtal district of Balkh and clean-up of this district from the insurgents.
Amid the tensions caused by the dismissal of Atta Mohammad Noor by the Arg, and Mr. Noor’s opposition to this decision, Balkh security officials informed of their preparation to deal with any kinds of insurgency and insecurity in the province.
ENDS
