Lawmakers to grill security bosses over Uruzgan deaths

KABUL attack in central Uruzgan province on September 30.

Reports on September 30 said militants stormed security forces check-posts in the Chora district of Uruzgan, leaving 26 security personnel dead.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) did not share information about security forces’ casualties but has claimed over 30 Taliban were killed in the operation in Chora district.

Iqbal Safi, a lawmaker from Kapisa province, told today’s session that 26 security personnel of police and army were killed in Chora district.

“Security personnel who were trapped in the Taliban attack telephoned us and said no reinforcements were delivered to them by the military corps. When I asked the army chief, he assured that unit of commandos was being dispatched and the situation was under control,” he said.

Safi said the incident of Chora district should not be ignored, demanding a special meeting of the lower house on the issue in which defence minister and the spy chief should be summoned to answer questions from lawmakers.

Lawmaker Obaidullah Barakzai said it was eight military base to be captured by the Taliban. No one survived in the latest attack and all equipment were captured by the Taliban, he added.

He said 350 security personnel were present in Chora district while the number of Taliban gunmen reached 2,500, showing a huge difference of manpower between the two sides.

“Before the attack, I told the defence minister and the interior minister that a catastrophe is on the way to come, but the Uruzgan governor told security bosses that it was not a serious issue and nothing bad would happen,” said the lawmaker.

Zaheer Saadat, another lawmaker, said the lack of proper administration and a proper military strategy caused the fighting to prolong.

“The authorities concerned were fully aware of the 26 besieged security personnel but no action was taken to rescue them,” he said.

Speaker Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said the house would not take the issue lightly and would summon the authorities concerned to answer to lawmakers.

nh/ma

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