Taliban rebels who captured a southern Afghan town a week ago were fortifying their positions after rejecting talks, a tribal chief said on Friday as officials played down the situation.
Does that mean we can kill them now? | A tribal elder involved in talks to persuade the insurgents to leave, after warnings they could face more ISAF action, said they had “suddenly” refused further negotiations. They had said that “our leaders have told us to resist,” said the elder who spoke by phone from Musa Qala. The elderly man said there were around 300 Taliban fighters in the town and they had started digging trenches and laying mines to respond to any potential military action by coalition forces. | “At the beginning the Taliban had accepted to talk to authorities through tribal elders,” the chief said. “But suddenly they said they don’t want to talk any more.”
The elderly man said there were around 300 Taliban fighters in the town and they had started digging trenches and laying mines to respond to any potential military action by coalition forces. Authorities would not confirm the elder’s information. “At this point, things are the same as they were,” said Nabi Jan Mullahkhail, police chief for Helmand province in which Musa Qala sits. “The government has got its own programmes and we’re working on it.” He would not give details. ISAF would not comment.
A resident said civilians were still leaving, fearing government attacks. ISAF said around 200 people had left but a Helmand refugee official said up to 1,500 families had gone. “Many people have left. There are people still leaving the town,” the resident said. |