Security in Nuristan, Paktia and Ghazni improve after the recent protests against the Taleban. But fears of a Taleban backlash grow in the absence of government support. An exclusive Killid report by Abobaker Jabarkhail and Ismail Larawai.
Security in Nuristan, Paktia and Ghazni improve after the recent protests against the Taleban. But fears of a Taleban backlash grow in the absence of government support. An exclusive Killid report by Abobaker Jabarkhail and Ismail Larawai.Last week Killid weekly reported on a wave of anti-Taleban protests in Waigal, a district under Taleban control in Nuristan, and Paktia and Ghazni provinces. The most sensational was the report from Waigal where agitating students forced open schools that had been ordered shut by the Taleban. Mohammad Ismail, a student in Waigal, said the Taleban had clamped down on schools including the Waigal Central High School in retaliation for the bombing of Taleban targets by US forces. The students were accused of “spying for foreigners” by the Taleban.
Ismail confirmed reports of complaints from locals that the district authorities did not support them during the uprising. “Rahmatullah, the district governor of Waigal, and Zabihullah, the security commander, are with Tameem Nuristani, the governor of Nuristan in the provincial capital,” he said. People believe they can clear the district of the Taleban if they had the support of the government.
Labib Nuristani from Kamdesh district in Nuristan blamed the government for not backing the people. “Few days some people came out in support of the government but the government did not protect them. The Taleban killed some of them; the injured who escaped to the airport were also killed.” Shah Wahid, 35, said 14 people including women and children were killed, while the people killed 16 armed opponents.
According to Labib, most of the armed fighters in the district are foreigners from Pakistan and Arab countries.
Mohammad Zareen, the spokesman of the Nuristan governor, said clearance operations would soon be launched to clear Waigal of the Taleban. “Now the district is under the control of Taleban. We will carry out operations very soon. We expect the district will be captured back,” he said.
According to reports from Marzeka in Paktia, the insurgents who were seeking to occupy the district have retreated in the face of popular resistance on July 8. However, tribal leaders and residents of Marzeka are worried the Taleban may attempt to take revenge, and they will suffer because the government has not come out in support.
“We only want peace”
A tribal leader who did not want to be identified told Killid that the people have united against the Taleban because of their love for their country but the government does not support them. “We don’t trust the government. The government would leave us alone on the ground.”
Shayesta Jan Ahadi, the head of the provincial council of Paktia, said this is not the first time people have risen up against the Taleban. Residents of Janikhail and Dand-e-Patan border districts have raised their voices against the armed opponents of the government in the past.
“The local people have promised us that they will support the security forces and not allow the armed fighters to establish a presence in their areas,” said Jan Ahadi.
Deputy governor of Paktia, Abdul Rahman Mangal, said the Taleban are likely to be ejected from other parts of the province after the events in Marzeka.
Two months ago the people of Andar district, Ghazni, rose up against the Taleban in protest against the repeated closure of schools and markets. Ever since both schools and clinics in the area have stayed open, according to locals. People in Andar say they were only demanding their rights.
A local who participated in the surprise demonstrations and did not want his name to be revealed said the popular revolt has been to the advantage of people. Everywhere the Taleban are strong schools and public offices remain closed.
Another Andar resident said people have been able to wrest control of 50 to 60 villages. “We don’t want anything; we don’t want power. We want peace and liberty.”
There are reports of popular protests from Giro district, Ghazni. Obaidullah who is the people’s spokesman, said in an exclusive interview with Killid, the demonstrators have lost seven “friends” while killing 100 pro-Taleban “armed opponents”.
He said most villages in Andar have been cleared of the Taleban fighters, and the district of Grow is also being cleared. “We requested the students and teachers of Shahabudeen School yesterday to start going to school and not stay idle.”
The Ghazni governor’s spokesman, Sabawoon, confirmed news of popular uprisings and said the local government has provided timely assistance. “Food stuff have been sent; the closed educational and health institutions have been reopened and they have been assisted.”
However the spokesman would not confirm if the government had reopened the clinics. Sabawoon said, “We have asked aid agencies to help us reactivate closed clinics.”
In Kabul, Ministry of Interior Affairs spokesman Sidiq Sidiqi told Killid the government has supported popular protests against the Taliban everywhere. “Once the National Police investigate the situation the Afghan government supports the uprising of people against the terrorists; we also request support from people.”
