Foreign insurgents preparing for major Nuristan attack

JALALABAD (PAN): Hundreds of foreign fighters who have sneaked into eastern Nuristan province are preparing for a major attack, an official claimed on Saturday.

More than 1,000 Pakistani, Uzbek, Chechen and Arab fighters have established hideouts in the Kamdesh, Bargi Matal, Duab and Wanth Waigal districts to capture the towns, deputy police chief, Col. Ghulam Farooq, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He called on the central government to assist security forces in Nuristan to drive insurgents away.

Provincial council member Shams Asilzai confirmed foreign fighters had entered the province, saying their aim was overrun some districts.

He also asked the central government to deploy additional security personnel to the province to rescue it from being captured by militants.

A clash between security forces and insurgents was ongoing in the Duab district after militants surrounded the town on Saturday morning, he said.

myn/ma