Unknown helicopters to be targeted if seen, warns Qadir

KABUL (Pajhwok): Lawmaker Haji Zahir Qadir on Monday said unknown helicopters had been seen landing in eastern Nangarhar province and his men would target these copters if seen again.

The first deputy speaker of the Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament also showed a copy of a letter from the 201 Selab Military Corps to lawmakers during Monday’s session.

Qadir said the copy showed 90 percent of outlawed Pakistani militant group, Lashkar-i-Islami Tehreek members, who had been issued special permit cards in the past by the government, had joined the Islamic State group and were now fighting against the government.

The lawmaker said unknown helicopters had been seen flying over Nangarhar where they had made landings in various areas, but when government officials were asked about the helicopters, they replied the helicopters had been granted permission and they made landings due to technical faults.

“Today I announce and tell all that if these helicopters make landing again, they will be targeted,” warned the powerful figure from Nangarhar.

Reports in foreign and local media had recently claimed that militants were flown to northern and eastern provinces by helicopters.

The Ministry of Defence has tasked a delegation with investigating the issue.

Showing the 201 Military Corps letter, Qadir said it was a small example of evidence he had and he would share other documents with the passage of time.

The letter says 90 percent of the Mangal Bagh-led Lashkar-i-Islami members living in Shinwari district of Nangarhar, who had been issued special permits in the past by the Afghan government, have recently joined the Islamic State group in Nazyan and Achin districts and are fighting against the Afghan government.”

But the 201 Military Corps spokesman, Col, Numan Hatafi, told Pajhwok Afghan News he had no information about such a letter.

He said if Haji Qadir had obtained any letter, he should have first shared it with the corps commander.

Qadir told lawmakers that Daesh was a project to replace Taliban because the Taliban had no formal address.

“When there are clashes between Taliban and Daesh militants in Nangarhar, helicopters come and not only target Taliban but also assist the rivals,” he claimed.

Efforts at seeking comments from the Ministry of Defence about Qadir’s remarks did not succeed.

Qadir was speaking on the assembly floor two days after his militia beheaded four Daesh fighters in revenge for beheading four of his militiamen after clashes between the two sides in Achin district.

Qadir had previous accused the National Security Council of supporting Daesh and his remarks drew strong condemnation from top security officials.

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