MAIMANA (SW): Vice President Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum has vowed to expedite development work on the Faryab Ring Road (FRR) that has been hindering for years due to security concerns.
The VP told a gathering in the provincial capital Maimana on Wednesday that the project would not be delayed further. He said the FRR would bridge the people and provide job opportunities for the people of Ghormach, Qaisar and Almaar districts.
Dostum is heading a clean-up “Almaas” operation in the Uzbek heartland in the north of Afghanistan that has so far seen hundreds of rebels killed. This previously safer part of the country has witnessed a sudden surge of militancy since the past few months.
Today, in line with Afghanistan’s Independence Day Celebrations, Dostum said around1600 armed rebels wished to give-up arms and join the government forces in various Faryab districts. “Negotiations with the local elders in Ghormach district are underway where some 500 rebels have pledged to give-up arms, similar pledges have been made by 500 more (armed rebels) in Gauharbad and Dawlat Abad districts, And on the other hand in faraway areas of Badghis (province) some 600 more have pledged to join the security forces”, Dostum told the gathering.
Dostum said fighting in the north were no to liberate Ghormach , Bala Murghab, Qaisar or Almaar districts but was actually a battle against Pakistan’s ISI (spy agency Inter Services Intelligence)”.
Faryab officials have acknowledged improvement in security situation since Gen.
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