Ghazni residents say Talbian use their hosues as bastions

GHAZNI CITY (PAN fighters were using their houses for attacks against foreign and local forces.

“Local civilians are being killed and wounded when clashes erupt between militants and security forces,” said a resident of Jan Mirdad area of Qarabagh district, Aminullah.

“After every clash, security forces start searching nearby houses where militants take refuge after attacks on military convoys,” he said, adding people were suspected of and harassed for links with the Taliban.

Residents of a village near the Qarabagh-Jaghori highway, which is under construction, say they are worried about the situation.

“Our seveal animals were killed as a result of a clash between private security guards and militants few days back,” villager Abdul Nabbi said.

A community council member, Wakeel Ahmad Mashal, said the front gate of his house was destroyed during a firefight between foriegn soldiers and Talbian fighters, who had taken position inside a mosque of the village. “Such incidents are the result of increasing civilian casualties,” he said.

Local officials confirm the problems being faced by residents of the province. Qarabagh district chief, Mohibullah Khpalwak, asked the rebels not to use ordinary houses as their bastions.

The 203 Thundar Military Corps, commander, Col. Daud Shah Wafadar, on the other hand said using houses of ordinary people by Taliban fighters showed they had weakened.

He urged both parties of the war to take utmost care of civilians during their engagements. “It is not only in Qarabagh district, but in various places, our soldiers are attacked by militants in their attacks from houses,” he said.

However, the Taliban fighters spurn the claims, saying they had never used houses as their bastions.

“We do not disturb ordinary people by any mean. If something like that happens, we investige it,” Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said.

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