Taliban capture Shakh Bazaar area in Faryab

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Taliban insurgents captured Shakh Bazaar area in the Qaisar district of northern Faryab province on Sunday soon after security forces departed after election duty, the governor said.

Mohammadullah Batash told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban attacked the area in the afternoon and captured it around 4pm.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel were present in the area, but they tactically retreated to avoid civilian casualties, the governor said and added the area would be recaptured under a plan that would involve all security organs.

ALP commander in the area, Bobi, confirmed to Pajhwok the Shakh Bazaar area had been captured by the rebels. Bobi earlier in the day accused the provincial leadership and security officials of not cooperating with them in term of weapon supplies.

Faryab provincial council secretary Syed Abdul Hashmi said nearly 400 families had reached the district centre from the Shakh Bazaar area as of 6pm and the exodus continued.

He said the area inhibited by nearly 3000 families fell to the Taliban because of negligence on the part of security high ups and warned the entire Qaisar district could fall into danger if the government did not take timely action.

The development follows a rocket attack that left a mother and her two children injured in the area. The Taliban, who fired the rocket, opened fire at an ambulance taking the injured woman and children to a hospital.

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