SHEBERGHAN (SW) – The Taliban insurgents have imposed economic restrictions on residents living in two districts of Jawzjan under their influence.
According to the local residents, the Taliban have significant clout in Mardyan and Qirqeen districts. Shukrullah Jahed, governor of Qirqeen, told Salam Watandar that if the government failed to take immediate stern actions against the insurgents, situation would further deteriorate here. He said at least one thousand families from Qirqeen were forced by the raging violence last week to flee to relatively peaceful districts of Jawzjan and Balkh.
The district governor said the Taliban have warned the residents against shopping from the market and there is a shortage of basic items here.
In Mardyan districts, the governor Shamsuddin said the Taliban have imposed similar restrictions here. He added the insurgents are even not allowing locals to gather and sell their agriculture yield.
In conversation with SW, the internally displaced persons from these two districts shared horrific tales of persecution. An IDP, Rehmatullah said his family is faced with shortage of food while his wife lost her leg due to the violence.
The provincial police chief, Abdul Wahed Wajdan acknowledged the security concerns in these districts. He vowed soon a clean-up operation would be launched against the insurgents here.
However, the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed discarded the allegations of levelling economic restrictions on Jawzjan residents.
ENDS
