DIAG programme facing problems in north

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN): The Disarmament of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) programme has been on the wrong track in the north due to a lack of cooperation from gunmen, an official said on Wednesday.

Thousands of illegal arms had been surrendered, but the process was still faced with certain problems, the DAIG director for northern zone, Brig. Gen. Abdul Manan, told reporters at during a ceremony for handover of weapons by the 209th Shaheen Military Corps.

The corps submitted more than 565 light and heavy weapons it had seized during operations in various provinces in northern Afghanistan.

Manan said the troops had confiscated 9,128 weapons this year so far.  He added five districts each in Faryab and Jawzjan, three in Samangan and Sar-i-Pul and two in Balkh have been declared as peaceful districts after disbandment of illegal groups.

mas/ma/mud