BADGES (SW) – Residents of Badghes protested last month against the Taliban’s mounting assaults, killings and besieging of scores of security forces.
Back then, the provincial governor Abdul Ghafoor Malakzai assured protestors no parts of the province would fall to the Taliban. He even vowed to commit suicide if restive Bala Murghab district fell to the Taliban.
But, Bala Murghab briefly fell to the Taliban multiple times in the past 20 days. According to the local officials the Taliban staged multiple attacks on Bala Murghab in the past three days, and overran all official compounds here except from a battalion compound of the army.
A member of the provincial council, Fareed Akhizay, told Salam Watandar the security situation in the province has not improved at all. Criticizing the governor over his promises, he said officials should not make false and loud promises that they cannot materialize.
Meanwhile, deputy chairman for the provincial council, Abdullah Afzali, has claimed security situation in Bala Murghab is fine, and efforts are underway to further improve it. He blamed the Kabul government for the current state of affairs.
The provincial governor, however, is standing firm by his words. He has vowed to protect the security forces besieged by the Taliban. He said the insurgents have brought fighters from different parts of the country, but would not be allowed to cause damage.
Spokesman for the 207 – Zafar Corps, Arif Rezaey, has said fresh air and ground forces have reached restive Bala Murghab and Ab Kamari districts. He said at least 40 Taliban insurgents have been killed in clean-up operations.
ENDS
