JALALABAD (SW): Intense gorilla fighting is underway in the Pacheragaam district of Nangarhar province between the pro-Daesh rebels and local uprising force that has the backing of government forces.
The local up-risers lament that the government is not backing and equipping them to the extent it should. Just last Thursday, tens of pro-Daesh rebels stormed the district which was resisted by the locals. Salam Watandar’s Correspondent Omid Dedar visited the front lines and met with the locals.
According to the locals, the militants have killed scores of civilians and torched many homes. Vowing to resist, the locals fear if the government failed to back them in time, the whole district would turn into a graveyard. The pro-Daesh rebels are reportedly infiltrating from Orakzai Tribal Agency across the Durand Line.
Noor Khan, a leader of the local anti-Daesh force, said that they have been fighting the militants for the past two years now. “We are running out of resources, the manpower is there, we just need resources and support from the government”, he added. Khan warned that if the government did not help them crush the militants, the district and neighbouring areas would fall to the pro-Daesh rebels.
Mirbaz Khan Mumtaz, another leader of the local militia, said that thousands of families have been displaced by the ragging violence. According to the locals, more than 70 locals have lost their lives and 40 more got wounded fighting the pro-Daesh rebels.
Meanwhile, Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor, has said that fresh troops have been dispatched to curb the militants in Pacheragaam. He added that the ground forces would have air support as well in this operation. Khogyani asserted that so far 54 pro-Daesh rebels have been killed in the offensives.
The locals however, blame that a US drone strike last week five members of the local anti-militant militia. President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has directed the forces to eliminate the pro-Daesh rebels.
ENDS
