TALUQAN (SW) – The local administration in Takhar province has armed former Mujahedeen commanders in Taluqan city against a potential Taliban assault.
A well-placed security source told Salam Watandar those getting arms from the provincial administration would be under the supervision of the NDS. According to the sources, following the Taliban’s onslaught on Khwaja Ghaar, Baharak and Namak-e-Aab districts, a number of former Jehadi commanders armed their men to fight the insurgents in Baharak.
Najeeb, one such commander of the local uprising force, told SW that the provincial administration has asked them and members of the provincial council to get arms and stand against the Taliban. He said though the uprising force has repulsed the Taliban’s attacks on Baharak, but the security forces need to conduct thorough operation in a bid to evade the threats posed by the insurgents to the provincial capital, Taluqan.
He added that commanders such as former police chief Aagha Gul, Qomandan Aaghaey, Qomandan Dawood, Haji Kareemullah and Arbab Wali have taken positions in Baharak.
In the meantime, Jawad Hijri, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the former Jehadi commanders are indeed useful in repulsing the Taliban’s attacks. He said the Taliban’s attack on Baharak was repulsed by the security forces in close collaboration with these Jehadi commanders. He added the government is trying to regulate the activities of the local uprising force against the terrorists.
However, analysts such as Baseer Baik, fear such a move by the government to arm illegally armed groups would eventually pose problems to the government as well as the people. He said a similar move in the Kokcha River area backfired and now the illegally armed men are proving to be worst that the Taliban. He added the men armed by the provincial administration have already been involved in crimes and violation of peoples’ rights.
Takhar residents have suggested that the government should instead ensure security via the security forces.
ENDS