MoI spurns claim of Badakhshan’s Shikai district fall

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has rejected the fall of Shikai district of northeastern Badakhshan province to the armed opponents as claimed in social media.

Earlier, the ‘National Resistance Front’ claimed capturing Shikai district and arresting its administrative chief.

Sibghatullah Ahamdi, spokesperson for the front, on his Twitter handle wrote that their armed militia had captured the Shikai district and detained 10 people including the administrative chief.

A video clip circulating in social media showed a man as the administrative chief of Shikai district. It said the administrative chief was in their custody from Monday and he was being freed to go to his home.

The man who introduced himself as administrative chief says that he was arrested on his way to Shahr-i-Sabz area.  He said: “We were arrested but not tortured and humiliated, we are safe.”

Pajhwok could not confirm the authenticity of the video clip.

In a statement, the MoI said: “We categorically reject the baseless claims of Shikai district’s fall, some biased circles have published rumors that Badakhshan’s Shikai district has fallen to the rebels which is not true.”

“Our forces face death but not defeat,” the statement said.

nh/ma