PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The residents of Baghlan-i-Markazi district in northern Baghlan province on Saturday said security forces were not able to bolster security, asking the government to arm them to fight rebels.
More than 200 residents and local elders of the district gathered at governor’s office said people were fed up of Taliban’s brutality.
Amir Gul Hussainkhel, a former district chief of Baghlan-i-Markazi, said security forces could not stand against Taliban and they had gathered to demand the government to arm them for their own safety.
“We will stage uprising against Taliban to flush them out of the area,” he remarked.
He added the district was under insurgents’ sway and they had already taken control of Hussainkhel, Shafikhail, and Hematkhel localities.
Abdul Hakim, another local elder, said foreign insurgents were arriving in the district and time was rip for to fight against them.
Acting Governor Mohammad Abadi said he would talk to the central government on the subject about arming local. He insisted security forces were capable of fighting the enemy.
Safdar Mohsini, provincial council head, welcomed people’s stance against Taliban, saying if the security forces did not secure the troubled areas people had no choice but to stand against them.
Brig. Gen. Asadullah Sherzad, Ministry of Interior special unity commander, assured residents that Taliban would not remain a threat to people anymore.
Localities in Pul-i-Khumri, the provincial capital, and Baghlan-i-Markazi and Dahan-i-Ghori districts have witnessed heavy fighting between security forces and insurgents.
According to provincial council, three localities and 20 security posts have fallen to insurgents in these areas.
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