Afghans ready for security switch in north

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (PAN): Security officials in the north on Tuesday said they were ready for the second phase of security transition. 

Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, the 303rd Pamir Police Zone spokesman, told reporters that security forces had launched 25 independent and 36 combined operations in nine provinces since March.

About 151 insurgents were detained with explosives and 341 weapons seized during the operations, he said. So far 42 armed groups have surrendered and 15 illegal checkpoints have been demolished in the Andarab district of Baghlan province.

Ahmadzai added security forces were all set to take over the security responsibility from their foreign counterparts. Some areas in Balkh, Sar-i-Pul, Samangan and Badakhshan provinces are due to change hands in the near future.

mrh /ma/mud

Visits: 2