JALALABAD (SW): According to the locals in the eastern Nangarhar’s Achin district, the pro-Daesh rebels have started to cut the dense pine tree forests in a bid to smuggle timber.
The decades old forests are in danger as pro-Daesh rebels have targeted them to financially back their militancy. Cutting of the forest began after the locals in these high altitude areas left their villages out of fear.
Bahram Khan, a local told Salam Watandar that the militants are busy piling up timber from the forests and smuggling them. “The locals cannot stop them, the whole community has been displaced and the area is vacant for the militants to do whatever they want”, he said.
Khair Khan, a local tribal elder has confirmed the fact that the militants have started to cut forests in Achin district. “These incidents are taking place in Peshi, Haska Mena, Mamand, Naziano and Morgo areas, they sell the timber at cheap price and have cut-off all the green tree forests”, he said.
The Shinwari tribesmen call upon the government to ensure removal of the rebels from their native areas for good.
Ghalib Mujahid, Achin’s district chief said with regret that the government has so far failed to stop the rebels from cutting off the decades old dense forests in the area. He claimed that much of the timber has been smuggled across the Durand Line to Pakistan.
The provincial administration too is aware of the issue. Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor Nangarhar said in this regard that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) is working on a plan to flush the rebels out of here for good. “We are committed to make-up for the loss once the rebels are removed”, he said.
Much of Afghanistan’s forest cover has borne the brunt of raging violence in the country with very little being done to protect them and increase the forest cover.
ENDS
