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| Afghanistan |
| Faryab Residents Flee, Call for Help as Security Deteriorates |
| 2015-07-17 |
| [Tolo News] Residents of Faryab province, which has seen heavy fighting between Afghan cops and Talibs in recent weeks, have expressed mounting concerns that large swaths of the province could fall into the hands of "The faithful people of Faryab urge the president, chief executive officer, Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior that there is an immediate need for a major operation in Faryab," Faryab Peace Committee head Maulavi Assadullah Jamali said on Thursday. "Otherwise, a human tragedy will occur," he added. Reports from the ground in Faryab indicate Talibs have already seized control of 40 villages, setting fire to some 30 residential homes in the process. Displaced families have now sought refuge in neighboring Balkh province. They say that insecurity has reached in its peak in their home province and that roadways have become too risky for commuters. "The situation in Faryab is distressing and war continues in various districts," one Faryab native named Ahmad told TOLOnews. "The Taliban operate in the area and the battle continues and many have been displaced," another resident named Bai Murad said. "There is no transportation because the ways are insecure." The acting governor of Faryab, Abdul Sattar Bariz, has tried to assuage anxieties by touting alleged gains by the security forces. He said on Thursday that government forces had destroyed an important Taliban base in the suburb of Khawja Sabzposh district. "A day ago one of the important bases of the enemy was targeted in the area of Yakataz, in the suburb of Khawja Sabzposh district, by an air raid of commandos and a special unit of the Ministry of Interior," Bariz said. "The operation killed six Taliban and four others were maimed. The whole area is peaceful now," he added. |
| Posted by:Fred |