SAR-I-PUL CITY (Pajhwok): Residents and a senior official on Sunday claimed 10 Uzbek women had joined militants and were assisting them in making magnetic bombs in northern Sar-i-Pul province.

Acting Governor Abdul Jabbar Haqbin confirmed the claim. He said the women had joined militants in the Salarzai village of Kohistanat district a month back.

Besides making magnetic bombs, he said, the Uzbek women had been participating in insurgent activities against the government and security forces in the area.

Haqbin said directives had been issued to security forces to intensify efforts at arresting the foreign women.

Police spokesman Mohammad Kazim said the Uzbek women had been trained in making magnetic bombs in Pakistan. They are said to be training other women in the district.

A clean-up operation has been launched in the district to eliminate foreign militants and dismantle their safe havens.

Mohammad Noor Rahmani, the provincial council head, said three Uzbek nationals, including two women, were involved in insurgent activities in the district. He said residents of the locality did not understand their language.

A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News a total of 19 Uzbek nationals, including 16 women, lived in Kohistanat district.

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