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PUL-I-KHUMRI (SW): A number of residents who live in Sorkh Kotal area in Central Baghlan province have claimed that the Taliban set ablaze their homes as they were retreating from the area.
They said that the insurgents have also taken their valuable belongings. Habibullah and Haji Qamaruddin, two residents of the Sorkh Kotal told Salam Watandar that when the security forces cleared the area of the militants, they returned and found their homes looted and torched.
The locals in Sorkh Kotal stated that the Taliban apart from burning their houses, have placed landmines in some of the houses. The residents also said that the militants have set on fire shops in Sorkh Kotal.
On the other hand, Gen. Muhammad Ali Yazdani, the commander of the 10th Unit of the Afghan National Army (ANA)'s Special Forces stated that the Taliban were fighting in Sorkh Kotal in a bid to maintain their logistics from the area. He added that to finance themselves, the insurgents also collected million of afghanis as Ushr and Zakat (religious taxation) from the locals.
Gen. Yazdani added that the insurgents have been instructed by thier foreign operators to show their strength by setting on fire houses and shops to create fear among the locals in Sorkh Kotal.
Malawi Hilal, the Taliban commander in Baghlan, however rejected Yazdani’s claims, saying that the Afghan National Security Forces have carried out the destruction themselves to defame the Taliban.
Sorkh Kotal and Chashma-e-Sheer areas in Pul-e-Khomri came under Taliban control 20 days ago. The security forces however, have just recently launched an operation aimed at recapturing the areas.
The operation is said to be underway and 30 insurgents have reportedly been killed so far.
ENDS
