Fierce clashes in Siyagard district displace thousands

CHARIKAR (Pajhwok): Two girls have been killed and seven other civilians injured in ongoing clashes in the Siyagard district of central Parwan province, an official said on Tuesday.

Four days back, the Taliban launched coordinated attacks on security forces. As a result, some check-posts felt to the militants while local security forces retreated.

An operation involving military, police and intelligence personnel was subsequently launched to flush out the Taliban from the embattled area.

District chief Noor Aqa Sami told Pajhwok Afghan News the operation was launched Monday evening and security forces had made some progress.

He acknowledged around 2,000 displaced families had migrated to Charikar, the provincial capital, Dara-i-Ghorband and other areas. The displaced families are in terrible condition and need economic support.

Abdul Razzaq, 23, a resident of Siyagard district, said his nine-member family had sought refuge in an apartment in Charikar. “The Taliban attacked army check-posts in Fundoqistan Valley and set our homes on fire. We have left behind everything we had.”

Director of Refugees and Repatriation Affairs Aqa Sherin Khalil said around 1,000 families had migrated from the Fundoqistan Valley of Siyagard to Charikar and other places.

He said a delegation had been tasked with identifying the families for provision of assistance under a proper mechanism.

Nh/mud