Delegation to resolve Jumbish, Jamiat conflict attacked

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): A delegation tasked to resolve the dispute between Jamiat and Junbish parties came under armed attack in Pashton Kot district of northwestern Faryab province but no casualties reported, officials said Sunday.

Pashton Kot district chief said a delegation comprised of representatives from the governor’s house, police, intelligence forces and military attorney was dispatched to Dahandara area of the district to resolve the dispute between two commanders of Jamiat and Junbish groups.

“Unidentified gunmen attacked the delegation convoy upon their arrival in the area on Sunday afternoon,” Abdul Qadir Qaaderi told Pajhwok Afghan News.

However, he said that only windshield of the vehicles the delegation members were traveling in broken and the officials onboard were escaped unhurt in the incident.

The clashes between supporters of Naim Chariak and Firoz, commanders of Junbish, and Hayatullah, a commander of Jamiat party in the area were ongoing from the past few days, Qaaderi said, adding both sides and civilians suffered casualties and financial losses in the battle.

Faryab police spokesman, Abdul Karim Yurish, confirmed the attack on the delegation and said the fight between the two sides was ongoing from the past two days that left nine people injured including two women and a policeman and one person dead.

He said a residential building was also torched and 15 member of Jamiat party surrendered to Junbish side.

Jamiat party commander, Hayatullah said several commanders of the Junbish party supported by Afghans forces and equipped with military tanks attacked Dahandara village.

One person was killed and four houses torched by the Junbish commanders in the incident, he said.

“I took stronghold on the top of the mountain to resist against the assailants and prevent civilian casualties,” he added.

However, Firoz, a commander of Junbish party, said the attack was first conducted by commander Hayat who he said fired four rockets on his house. “I was obliged to defend my village and stand against Hayat,” he said.

Clashes between the two sides began after a son of a Junbish commander, Nizamuddin was killed by supporters of a Jamiat commander in a dispute.

Nizamuddin’s son was Gen. Abdur Rashid Dostum’s special representative for upraising groups in Faryab.

After the loss of the commander’s son, fight between the two parties continued for three days in Maimana, the capital of Faryab and some other parts of the province.

Mds/nh