Locals rise against Taliban in Helmand

LASHKARGAH (SW): Hundreds of locals in Helmand province have united to wage armed resistance against the Taliban militants in their areas.

Leaders of this local up-rising movement urged the government to back them in their quest against the armed rebels.

Abdul Wali, a leader of this movement told journalists that the province is under attack by the militants from Pakistan. “We have come here to ask for the government’s support, we are willing to voluntarily fight alongside the security forces against the rebels”, he said. Hameedullah, another leader of the men said that if the government provides them with modern arms and ammunition, they would crush the rebels.

The provincial government has welcomed these men. Umar Zhwak, spokesman for the provincial governor told Salam Watandar that these men would be supported to the best possible extent.

Meanwhile, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a spokesman of the Taliban has dubbed this movement as a government ploy. In a message, he asserted that these men do not represent a local uprising but are in fact associated with the security forces.

Prior to this, a similar uprising by the local men was seen in the province’s Nahr-e-Siraj and Nawa districts.

ENDS