Daily Security Brief: March 12, 2012

LAGHMAN: An Afghan Provincial Reconstruction) employee was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in eastern Laghman province, an official said on Monday.

The shooting happened in Ali Shang on the outskirts of Mehtarlam late on Sunday night, Col. Mohammad Daud Barakzai, deputy police chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said a PRT staff was killed on the spot while another suffered injuries and police had launched a probe into incident, but no arrest had been made so far.

Another PRT employee said in condition of anonymity the victims were ordinary workers of the organization and they were residents of Maryam village near Mehtarlam.

–Abdul Mueed Hashimi

Mrh/vp

LAGHMAN: Ten militants, who admitted they were fighting against the government due to false information, decided to lay arms and join the peace process in eastern Laghman province, officials said on Monday.

The militant group’s commander Abdul Kabir said they were fighting against the government due to lack of knowledge.

“We were told that everyone in Afghanistan was infidel, but when we saw all are Muslims here, we are giving up fighting,” he said.

The group was active in Gardi Salab area of Alingar district, returned to normal life after local elders and National Directorate of Security (NDS) officials coaxed them to lay down arms, a NDS official told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The militants surrendered over eight Kalashnikovs, one rocket and binocular to NDS. 

In a news briefing, Governor Iqbal Azizi said a total of 265 militants had joined the government peace initiative so far, including 110 in the last one week.

—Obaidullah Baidar

mas/vp

LOGAR: Two men in the possession of deadly arms were arrested by a joint Afghan-international security force on suspicion of having links with insurgents in the Baraki Barak district of central Logar province, officials said on Monday.

The midnight raid was conducted at a house in the Dadkhil village, Col. Ghulam Sakhi Rogh Liwani, the police chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Din Muhammad Darwish, the governor’s spokesman, said two Kalashnikovs, a rocket launcher, some mines and grenades were discovered from the suspects.

Ali Ahmad, a resident, said the combined forces raided a house in the village at 2 am and detained two brothers.

He had no idea if the two had any links with the rebels.

Meanwhile, a Taliban attack on a police post was repelled in Pul-i-Alam, the provincial capital, the police chief said.

Col. Rogh Liwani said the attackers wanted to enter the city and the crossfire lasted for 20 minutes.

No casualties were reported in the clash.

–Maqsood Azizi

mds/ma/vp

URUZGAN: A resident shot dead two policemen for unknown reasons in the Khas Uruzgan district of central Uruzgan province, an official said on Monday.

The incident took place late on Sunday night, Col. Gulab Khan, the provincial crime branch chief, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said though an investigation had been launched into the incident, yet the cause remained unknown.

However, a resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok the policemen had entered a residence for robbery when they were shot by the house owner.

–Ajmal Wisal

mrh/ma