LASHKARGAH (SW): Lieutenant General Abdul Jabbar Qahraman, Operational Commander of all security forces in Southern Helmand province, has said that fighting is not the only solution to bring an end to the ongoing violence.
In an exclusive interview, Qahraman told Salam Watandar that efforts are underway to convince the Taliban to give-up armed rebellion. Without specifying the numbers, he claimed to have made notable success in this regard with the help of local elders.
Once a stronghold for the Taliban, Helmand had a phase of relative peace until resurge of militancy since seven months now. Reports about the brief fall of Sangin and Nauzad districts left question marks about the ability of Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to fight the rebels.
In his interview, Lt. Gen. Qahraman also noted that extensive clean-up operations are on the cards for restive areas in Helmand. He stressed that the ANSF were not on the defensives anymore and would soon uproot the rebels from various restive areas.
The locals however, believe that the Taliban have gone into the hiding and no fighting was taking place in areas under their influence.
ENDS
