[ToloNews] People's Resistance® Front’ forces led by Mohammad Ismail Khan,
...one of the Northern Alliance/Jamiat-e Islami warlords, the Herat Tajik was an Afghan National Army captain under the Communists, mujahideen commander against the Soviets, twice governor of Herat province — first for the mujahideen, then after the Taliban were defeated — and finally Hamid Karzai’s Minister of Energy and Water. He no doubt expected that at 75 he would be sitting back and enjoying less active maneuvers as an elder statesman... an ex-Jihadi leader, have been deployed alongside security forces in some parts of Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
city to prevent the Taliban
 ...mindless ferocity in a turban...
from entering the city.
Armed with light and heavy weapons, the forces warn the Taliban that they will be killed if they get closer to the city of Herat.
Mohammad Ismail Khan says the Resistance® Front forces are coordinating their activities with security agencies.
"The government is busy with ensuring security and peace to protect people and the country. To prevent any clash between security forces and the People Resistance® Front forces, and to be able to jointly defend the city of Herat, we mutually coordinate things," said Mohammad Ismail Khan, the leader of the People's Resistance® Front.
Sayed Ahmad, a member of the People's Resistance® Front, said: "Until the last drop of blood, we are going to defend our country, our people, and our city with high morale."
Abdul Shakur, another member of the People's Resistance® Front, said: "Under no circumstances will we allow the Taliban to enter Herat city. We assure our people that they can continue their normal life."
The role of the public forces in ensuring security and preventing the Taliban from advancing in Herat is considered vital by the Afghan government and residents of the province.
"After the formation of the people’s mobilization against the Taliban, there has been partial security in Herat city. Compared to last week, the security situation is better now and people’s life has come back to normal," said Maroof Herawi, a resident of Herat province.
"We need people’s help, cooperation, and support to ensure a lasting security," said Eraj Faqiri, a resident of Herat.
Hassan Majrooh, who is a military analyst, said: "If the people's mobilization would have a regular and systematic organization and management, and perform activities based on regular leadership and orders--and would not be under any personal orders--it can be very effective in defending the country and the people."
Meanwhile,
...back at the Hubba Hubba Club, Nunzio wondered: Where the hell was Chumbaloni? And where was his $600?...
security officials in Badghis say Taliban attacks on Qala-e-Naw city have diminished, and security forces have reduced Taliban threats by establishing a security belt around the city.
"The Taliban once again launched multiple attacks on the temporary checkpoints on one of the security belts around the city of Herat, but security forces pushed back these attacks. The Taliban feared lots of casualties," said Shir Aqa Alokozai, the police chief of Badghis district.
As the Taliban has taken large swathes of territory in the western part of the country, hundreds of residents of Herat province have been mobilized against the Taliban fighters. 
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