MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Elders and provincial council members in northwestern Faryab province on Saturday warned Qaisar district could fall to Taliban.
They said Taliban’s movements around the district had intensified and there was a need for a forcible clearing operation to stabilise the town.
Ahmad Farhad, Social Council head, told Pajhwok Afghan News the insurgents had already taken areas like Khwaja Ketny, Shakh, Ghora and Ziaratgah and were closing in on Bori, Aq Qush, Besh Kapa and Besh Bala villages.
He added they were preparing for a major assault on the district centre. “If the government doesn’t take immediate action, our people and security forces won’t be able to defend Qaisar.”
Abdul Baqi Hashimi, head of the provincial council, said the Taliban had come from Kohistan district to Qaisar. He added people alone could not fight them.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a local elder said the Taliban had taken position around the district centre with more than 100 motorbikes.
But Faryab Governor Mohammadullah Batash said they were aware of the Taliban’s movements and would soon launch clearance operations. He assured that police and army were armed enough in the district to drive Taliban away.
Maj. Reza Raza, the 209th Shaheen Corps spokesman, said a well-equipped battalion of the army was deployed to Qaisar and falling of the district to the enemy was nothing but a dream.
Qaisar is 60-kilometers away from the provincial capital, Maimana, and shares borders with Almar, Ghormach and Kohistan districts.
hg/mud
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