‘Herat military offensive lacks coordination, single command’

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Some Provincial Council (PC) and Local Uprising Council members allege that the lack of proper leadership and single command has made the military response to Taliban attacks ineffective in western Herat province.

PC Member GhulamHabib told Pajhwok Afghan News the 207 Zafar Military Corps was leading the fight against the Taliban but its commanders were committing negligence in their leadership and administering the conflict.

“One of the problems is the lack of coordination among security institutions and the lack of a single command and management. This helped the militants to be more effective in their attacks.”

Jamal NasirHabibi, the Local Uprising Council member, said there was no single command in the fight against the Taliban and the 207 Zafar Military Corps felt below the expectations of effectively leading the combat.

“We often convey our complaints in this regard to the president that Zafar Military Corps are lacking leadership.”

He, however, said a number of military personnel in the line of fire are effectively fighting but the leadership of the combat is weak.

He urged the need for a unified and single command and control in order to drive away the Taliban from the outskirts of Herat City.

Commando Forces Commander Abdul NasirAlizai acknowledged the Taliban had crossed security check-points by wearing different military uniforms and had settled themselves in different parts of the city.

But Governor Spokesperson JailaniFarhad said complete coordination existed among security forces and the operation was underway effectively.

“The reason of slowness in offensive was that the Taliban sought refuge in public homes and it made it difficult for security forces to move swiftly.”

Zafar Military Corps officials have not spoken in this regard.

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