296 rebels killed in east this year

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): As many as 296 militants have been killed and another 82 injured by Public Order Police (POP) in their operations in eastern Afghanistan this year, an official said on Monday.

Brig. Gen. Nasir Ahmad Sapi, the second battalion commander, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Nangarhar-based POP had carried out operations in various parts of the country when called in.

He said their battalions performed duty in a number of remote provinces when needed and had so far killed 296 militants during operations. Another 82 rebels were injured and 141 captured alive during these operations over the past nine months, he said.

“Our 24 officers have died and 37 others were wounded during the period. The injured officers have recovered and returned to job,” he said.

He said the police had a number of achievements in other provinces and had been able to seize hundreds of Kalashnikovs, machineguns, rockets and explosives in the eastern zone alone.

Sapi claimed they had prevented hundreds of attacks from insurgents over the past nine months, including 20 such attacks in eastern Nuristan province over the past two months.

“Our personnel are also stationed in the Hesarak district, where five to six attacks daily occur, but we have pushed back the rebels and have established check posts there and have arrested many insurgents,” Sapi said.

He said the road to Nuristan, which remained closed for several years, had been reopened by the POP, which had established posts along the highway.

Sapi said the governor of Nuristan and other high officials travelled the route. The commander denied the POP personnel had been assigned duty as security guards with lawmakers or government officials.

“We have no such guards. Our personnel keep security for the governor’s house in Nangarhar, but they are not personal guards of the governor.”

Sapi said the masses should trust their forces and cooperate with them so that the country could be steered out of its misfortunes.

ma/mud