War in Farah is on water management, says Bahrami

FARAH CITY (Pajhwok): Defense, interior ministers, the spymaster and a top US, NATO have accused Iran of fueling the conflict in western Farah province just for water.

Defense minister Gen. Tariq Shah Bahrami, interior minister Wais Ahmad Barmak, spymaster Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai and Gen. John Nicholson visited Farah City on Saturday.

Haji Abdul Satar Hussaini, a tribal elder of Farah, during a meeting with the security bosses accused Iran of supporting the conflict in Farah and claimed evidence was available in support of his claim.

Bahrami, said: “The war in Afghanistan has huge aspects, our two neighbors [Iran and Pakistan] with all power and regional partners support the conflict in Afghanistan.”

He said currently fierce clashes were ongoing in 15 provinces of the country.

About the conflict in Farah, he said: “Farah’s war is an absolute and a precise war on water management.”

“Since Salma dam completion, and early work launch on Bakhshabad dam [in Farah], we have been in this hostility, but it is our right to manage our water,” Bahrami emphasized.

Barmak promised sending more troops to Farah and vowed to remove all the hurdles.

Gen. Nicholson also saw neighbor’s support behind Farah violence and said serious steps would be taken for Farah security.

Four days back, the Taliban attacked Farah City from different directions and entered the city, however, their assaults were pushed back.

Farah governor Abdul Basir Salangi claimed dozens of militants were killed and 25 security forces and five civilians were also killed and 15 others wounded in the clashes.

Fareed Bakhtawar, the provincial council chairman, urged senior security officials to punish security officials who had committed negligence in Farah attacks.

Barmak said security forces fought with all possibilities against Taliban but some shortcomings still existed. He reported that efforts at reforming the security sector in Farah were in place.

Stanikzai said in order to get out of the current situation, work must be done to preserve national interest and change the mindset that the war in Afghanistan was legitimate.

sa/ma