3 militants held, 11 surrender in Baghlan

PUL-I-KHUMRI (PAN): Three armed insurgents, including a notorious commander, were captured alive during separate security operations in northern Baghlan province, where an 11-member rebel group joined the peace drive, an official said on Sunday.

Two alleged fighters were apprehended during a manhunt for a Taliban leader in the Himmatkhel area of Baghlan-i-Jadid district, police chief Brig. Gen. Asadullah Sherzad told Pajhwok Afghan News.  

Sherzad held the Taliban leader, still at large, responsible for masterminding a number of attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. Two AK-47s were seized from the detainees. 

Elsewhere, police raided a compound in the Dunda Ghori area, arresting a senior militant, the police chief claimed. A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), ammunitions and some remote-controlled devices were recovered from the rebel.

Separately, an 11-member insurgent group joined the peace process in the Yarm area of Jalga district, said High Peace Council Sirajuddin Munshi.

The group that had been active over the past five years turned in their weapons to security officials, said Munshi, who claimed the surrendering men had foreign links.

“I have chosen walking off the battlefield after fighting against the government for the last five years. We were told by our masters in Pakistan are puppets in the hands of infidels,” said Qari Zafarullah, one of the former fighters.

So far 5,900 guerrillas have reconciled with the government nationwide, with around 200 of them renouncing violence in Baghlan.

nz/ma/mud