SAR-I-PUL CITY (SW): Local officials in Sar-i-Pul province claim civilian casualties have drastically increased as the Taliban are using them as human shields amid shelling by the security forces.
The clashes are underway in the Sancharak district’s Teber village. Mohammad Noor Rahmani, head of the provincial council, informed Salam Watandar that more than ten civilians, including women and children, got killed and around 50 had to flee their homes in the two days of clashes so far. Sabatullah, one of the recently displaced persons, said in this regard that many civilians are forced out of their homes, but the clashes between the Taliban and the security forces are ongoing.
Meanwhile, Zabehullah Amani, spokesman for the provincial governor, has claimed heavy losses have been inflicted upon the Taliban in these clashes so far. He acknowledged that the clashes have put many civilians at risk, but refrained from sharing statistics.
The local civil society fear persistence of the situation could lead to a human catastrophe in Teber village. Salam Watandar wished to have the views of the security forces and the Taliban on civilian casualties, but to no avail.
More than 50 people were reported killed and up to 150 families taken as hostage when the pro-Daesh militants overran the Mirza Olang valley in the province’s Sayad district some five months ago.
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