KABUL (SW) – Analysts believe the growing clout of illegally armed gangs is one of the driving forces behind surging casualty rate among security forces.
Reports obtained by Salam Watandar indicate at least 40 security forces got killed in the last one week in clashes with the Taliban insurgents in Kunduz, Baghlan and Uruzgan provinces.
Commenting on this, Kabul Khan Tadbeer, a defense analyst, said there are a number of warlords and illegally armed gangs backed by the spy agencies of regional countries. He added these figures are influential enough to help men of their choice appointed at key security positions.
Khan claimed there are intelligence reports available about such individuals and their activities, but they evade any actions against them through political levers and bribes.
The former police chief of Badakhshan province, Ghulam Sakhi, acknowledged that illegally armed gangs with significant clout within the security establishment are behind the surging casualties among security forces in the northern provinces.
Sakhi claimed men of the choice by such warlords provide fake and misleading intelligence reports to the security institutions.
Acknowledging the grimness of the issue, Gen. Retired Aigul Sulaimankhail, said the casualty rate among the Taliban insurgents is much higher than among the government forces.
Spokesman for the defense ministry, Ruhullah Ahmadzai, told journalists in Kabul on Wednesday that the casualty rate among the security forces has dropped in comparison to the past three years.
ENDS
