LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Officials in southern Helmand province on Thursday promised the security personnel, having strong coordination with the people, would defeat militants in Nad Ali district.
People were fed up with the Taliban who forcibly collected food, money and Ushr (10th part of harvests) of opium yield and created problems for the masses, the Nad Ali district police chief claimed.
Lt. Col. Omar Jan Haqmaltold Pajhwok Afghan News residents of Taliban-controlled areas had urged the security forces to expel the rebels. The fighters were trying in vain to capture more areas, he said.
Coordination among Afghan security personnel had also increased and as a result the areas captured by the militants would be retaken soon, the police officer hoped.
“Weakened as they are, the Taliban are only spreading propagandas and due to their internal differences, they can’t conduct major attacks,” the official said.
A commander of attack battalion of the Afghan National Army (ANA), Maj. Shukrullah, said they were equipped with modern weapons, including night vision goggles, and would proceed in coordination with police.
In addition to the security personnel, the people of different areas stopped the Taliban capturing more areas, said the district chief, Mohammad Idrees Alizai. Area residents are in the front line of fighting against the Taliban in Shawal.
Dozens of reconstruction projects were underway in the district, but they were halted after some areas fell to the insurgents, he said. The people asked the government to conduct operations in their areas to let the reconstruction work resume.
myn/mud
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