No Daesh bases in Kunar, says police chief

KABUL (Pajhwok): Daesh, also known as Islamic State (IS), fighters may have a presence but do not have bases in eastern Kunar province,the provincial police chief says.

Maj. Gen. Juma Gul Himmat, in an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, said Kunar was a mountainous province with dense forest, sharing a border with Pakistan.

He claimed the overall security situation was satisfactory in Kunar, where religious scholars, civil society activists and the masses unconditionally supported their security forces.

However, the police boss alleged Pakistan was trying to sabotage peace in the province by supporting terrorist and insurgent groups.

“Some days back tribal elders and youth promised strong support to the security forces and voiced their readiness to fight alongside police to defeat the enemy in Dangam district,” he recalled.

Gen. Himmat hinted at clearing operations in militancy-plagued areas. But he denied the presence of Daesh bases in Kunar, saying the group had launched recruitmentactivity in some far-flung areas.

He confirmed receiving reports about Daesh’s recruitment efforts in Chapa Dara, Noorgal and Shegal districts, but vowed security forces would take strong action against the individuals involved such activities.

The state’s writhad been established in all districts, where good governance had also been introduced, Gen. Himmat added.

But some areas on highways in Narai and Ghaziabad districts remained dangerous, where incident of insecurity were reported. The police personnel would soon initiate action to address the issue, he promised.

He chief acknowledged 10 militants -- groups most of them foreigners-- such as Afghan Taliban, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Al Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Southern Khorasan, Jaish Fidayan and Al Nasarwere active in the province.

He said 2,650 Afghan Local Police (ALP) personnel deployed to the province were playingan active role in stability.

nh/mud