MAIMANA (SW): As many as 120 villages in northern Faryab province have fallen to the Taliban as local up risers vacated them due to alleged poor backing from the security forces.
Khairullah Qarai, head of the up risers in Almar district told Salam Watandar that these villages have fallen to the rebels without any resistance. He charged the security forces for not providing necessary support for the local up risers. The areas that have been vacated by the local anti-Taliban forces connect Almar to neighboring Qaisar, Pashtunkot, Kohistan, Garziwan districts in Faryab and neighboring Badgis and Sar-i-Pul provinces.
Qarai went on to say that that Taliban have also managed to seize 8 patrolling vehicles and 2 armored vehicles in Almar. He vowed that had the up risers receive necessary support, they would have not quitted. He charged the Faryab police chief for the situation. “Since the uprising we have lost as many as 70 men in defense of the country but we are not ready to put our lives in danger with empty hands”, he said.
Meanwhile, Sayed Aqa Indrabi, Faryab Police Chief has charged Khairullah Qarai for the fall of villages to the militants. He said that the local up risers were under the Taliban siege for a week but the security forces came for their rescue and repulsed the militants but the up risers deliberately surrendered the villages afterwards.
He added that Qarai had only 40 men with him but was withdrawing salaries for as many as 400 men. Indrabi added that Qarai is on the run now.
Saleh Mohammad Saleh, the Almar district chief has confirmed the news about Taliban overrunning the villages.
ENDS
