TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): A police commander ‘defected’ to Taliban militants along with his 13 subordinates in a troubled district of central Uruzgan province on Wednesday.
The police chief for Chora district, Aka, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the 3rd police battalion commander based in Chora district had surrendered to Taliban along with his 13 men.
He identified the commander as Qahir Khan who had been serving as the commander for 3rd police battalion over the past two months.
He said Chora district had already been besieged by Taliban and the siege probably forced the commander into joining the rebels.
Uruzgan provincial council head, Abdul Karim Khadimzai, also said Qahir Khan was likely surrendered to Taliban. Khan had once in the past joined the militants, he said.
Khadimzai said a number of Taliban members employed in government ranks caused such incidents.
The governor’s spokesman, Dost Mohammad Nayab, said they were unaware whether Qahir Khan had been killed or had joined militants.
“There were rumors this morning that he was killed,” he said.
Taliban also said a military base commander had joined them along with his 15 members.
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