KHOST CITY (SW): Zazai Maidan is a district in south eastern Khost province that literally has no Taliban militants yet some 1600 Afghan National Army (ANA) men from this district have scarified their lives fighting the rebels while defending the motherland.
Lying some 100 kilometers away from the provincial capital, the district borders Kurram tribal agency across the Durand Line.
Mubariz Zadran, spokesman for the provincial governor told Salam Watandar that the district is among the top supplier of young recruits to the ANA on the national level.
Faizullah Gherat, Khost Security Chief confirmed the statistics. He added that the documents obtained by them suggest that the district has witnessed some 1600 men falling while serving the ANA in the past 13 years.
The locals told Salam Watandar that these sacrifices have inevitably left many young widows, heartbroken mothers and cheerless brothers and fathers behind. A mother, who wished not be named said losing her son has left her post-trauma mental disorder patient.
The woman lost her 22 years old son and a brother-in-law fighting the rebels.
She and her husband now live in an old house with the widow of her brother-in-law and four young children. “We are proud and thankful to God for bravely defending our motherland, it is however, sad that no one came for our held”, she regretted.
Another widow in Zazai Maidan said that she was hopeful for the government’s help in the beginning but now she has no hopes left for any assistance. She however, still urged countrymen to stand-up and defend their country against the enemies.
The local elders said in this regard that they encourage the youth to join the forces and bravely defend their country and support the government. Official figures indicate some 3000 youngsters from this district are still serving the armed forces.
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