JALAL ABAD (SW): Residence of eastern Nangarhar province have expressed outrage towards the central government for not doing enough to curtain the surge in militancy, particularly infighting between the Taliban and Daesh in this part of the country.
Nangarhar lies between the Afghan capital Kabul and Pakistan’s restive border region. The province remained relatively safe compared to the volatile southern parts of Afghanistan until recently when numerous militant commanders here announced allegiance with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) also known as Daesh.
Local elders gathered in the provincial capital Jalal Abad City on Thursday to send a unanimous message about heir concerns to the capital Kabul. They met the delegation of Masharano Jirga (Upper house) that went to Nangarhar to study the situation.
Dr. Zalmay Zabuli, head of the delegation claimed that the security situation was not as bleak as portrayed in the press. He told the gathering that the Provincial leadership has lodged complaints about a number of parliaments from the region for interfering in provincial matters and even disturbing peace for their political objectives.
Senator Lutfullah Baba, member of the delegation however, had different opinion. He said that situation was out of security forces’ control in Achin, Shinwari, Niazyan and adjacent districts where militants rule.
Earlier in the week, Afghanistan’s spy agency, National Directorate for Security (NDS) announced the death of Hafiz Saeed Khan, the Islamic State’s chief for Khorasan (Pakistan-Afghanistan border region) and Shahidullah Shahid, former spokesman for Pakistani Taliban. Both of them were said to be targeting with the help of U.S. operated drone.
ENDS
