Surrendered Islamic State fighters shifted to Shiberghan

SHIBERGHAN (Pajhwok): Daesh leader Maulvi Habibur Rahman and more than 100 of his loyalists, who recently surrendered to the security forces, were shifted to Shiberghan, the capital of northern Jawzjan province, on Thursday morning.

The 209^th Shaheen Military Corps said in a statement that Habibur Rahman and his fighters also handed over weapons and some military kits to the security personnel on Wednesday.

Habibur Rahman told Pajhwok Afghan News he was not a terrorist and all people of the area knew he was an ordinary religious scholar teaching at a seminary. Frustration and joblessness pushed him into militancy.

He added before joining the Islamic State group, he was an Imam with Qari Hikmat, a senior militant leader in Darzab district. Two months Qari Hikmat’s death, he was appointed to lead rebels across the province.

Maulvi Habibur Rahman said they were tired of fighting in mountains. As a result, he added, decided to join the peace process.

Deputy police chief Col. Abdul Hafeez Khashe confirmed the surrender and said Habibur Rahman and his associates were shifted in four army helicopters to the provincial capital early in the morning.

pk/mud