MP lends support to govt’s anti-Taliban push

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): A powerful lawmaker in eastern Nangarhar province on Saturday rejected rumours that some parliamentarians had taken security affairs into their own hands.
The speculation heightened after some lawmakers from Nangarhar province, expressing their concern over the increasing Islamic State threat in the Shinwari zone, announced to join the frontline with the masses.
But jihadi leader and member of the Wolesi Jirga, Haji Hazrat Ali, told a gathering of tribal elders in Dara Noor district that they were supportive of government forces and would cooperate with them.
The gathering titled “security and people’s role” was attended by a number of tribal elders and hundreds of local residents.
In his address Hazrat Ali said: “The government was suspicious that what these lawmakers are doing. We are doing nothing, we want people’s respect, we don’t want another government, we are supportive of the incumbent government and will cooperate with it.”
The lawmaker said the government was responsible for the security of people and the country’s borders and they would cooperate with the government and would stand by it if necessary.
“We will standby district police and administrative chiefs, but if they do not inform us and work on their own, it will create problems.”
He said instances of cooperation with insurgents had been observed in Dara Noor and he wanted such cooperation with the rebels to be ceased.
Turning his face to tribal elders, he said: “Those who cooperate with the Taliban, they should shun that cooperation and you should advise such people, otherwise I will bring security forces against them to arrest them. Everyone who is offering meals and shelter to Taliban will get killed.”
A tribal elder, Malak Shah Wali, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Hazrat Ali had urged them to extend their cooperation to the government and avoid sheltering insurgents in their areas.
“We are committed to cooperating with the government. besides Dara Noor, we will not allow anyone to provide shelter to Taliban in other areas,” the elder said.
Another elder from Dara Noor and former provincial council member, Amir Mohammad, told Pajhwok Afghan News the government should prevent the Taliban from entering the district.
He said they were taking part in improving security in their areas and would continue cooperating with the government.
Earlier Nangarhar security officials had said they were successful in maintaining security across the province and were able to protect the masses.
The officials, including intelligence operatives, had warned against confrontation of political and government forces as they said the era of public uprising had ended and the government had well-equipped defence forces.
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