Taliban may overrun 2 Kunduz districts

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): Dasht-I-Archi and Imam, local officials warned on Saturday, when security organs promised clearing operations in the towns.

Dasht-i-Archi district chief Nasruddin Nazari told Pajhwok Afghan News the overall security situation in the town had been grave, with 90 percent of areas already in Taliban’s control.

Afghan and foreign militants, numbering around 600, were operating in 50 groups across the district, which could be lost to the insurgents if the central government did not take urgent measures to drive the fighters from Dasht-i-Archi, he maintained..

Nazari added the issue had already been shared with security organs and the Ministry of Interior but nothing had been done so far.

Resident Ismatullah said security officials had previously promised purging the area of militants, but the fighters had further intensified their activities.

“We don’t want operations without concrete improvement. The new government should have a clear plan for eliminating militants,” he suggested, saying locals were concerned over the worsening security conditions.

Two days earlier, officials had said 12 militants were killed in Dash-i-Archi. Residents displaced by insecurity also asked the government to ensure their security before they return home.

Amanuddin Quraishi, administrative head for Imam Sahib, said there were 700 Afghan and foreign rebels trying to overrun the district. Kabad area is currently under Taliban’s control.

Nine militants and five Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers have been killed and 13 rebels and eight security personnel wounded during ongoing clashes, Quraishi added.

“Taliban’s operations have spread and most of the areas may fall to them if the government fails to initiate effective steps for curbing the insurgency,” he cautioned.

However, provincial police spokesman Syed Sarwar Hussaini said all parts of the province were being controlled by Afghan forces, who would soon launch ground and air operations in vulnerable districts to eliminate militants.

He confirmed the fighters had stepped up their activities in some parts of the province but said security forces had plans to defeat them.

mds/mud