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| Afghanistan |
| Taliban Takeover in Jawand Raises Questions About Local Leadership |
| 2015-05-15 |
| [Tolo News] Talibs have reportedly ransacked government offices and security forces facilities in Jawand district of Badghis province, seizing important documents and equipment, following their swift take-over of the district last Saturday night. Although the gunnies were beaten back with the help of air support, the fleeing of all local government and police officials at the first sign of the Taliban's advance does not bode well for conditions in Jawand. Moreover, in their wake, the Taliban left little but destruction and disarray. According to a TOLOnews news hound on the ground in Jawand, all government and police offices have been emptied and left abandoned. When the Taliban entered the district's abandoned Police HQ, local residents and eye-witnesses say they destroyed everything and stole eight police vehicles, as well as some heavy and light weaponry. Meanwhile, ...back at the bunker, his Excellency called a hurried meeting of his closest advisors. It was to be his last. They discussed the officers's efficiency rating system... local residents told TOLOnews that power-brokers in the area, who maintain close ties to both local governing officials and the Taliban, are responsible for Jawand's upheaval. They said the local leaders were in disagreement with district officials, so they encouraged and enabled the Taliban to take it over. "There were some people who used to be with the police, commander and the district governor, and used to tell them that they were cooperating with them - this was before the Taliban attacked," Jawand resident Muhammad Qazizada said on Thursday. "When the Taliban entered the bazaar and came down from the mountains to the district, the coppers said that the people who were cooperating with them yesterday were now the enemy." Regardless of what prompted the holy warrior advance, however, it is clear that local residents of Jawand are willing to lay down their lives in order to keep the Taliban out of their communities. Hundreds of district residents picked up arms in response to the incidents earlier in the week and vowed to fight the faceless myrmidons if they tried to seize territory again. "The Taliban will not be able to come back to the district, and operations are underway to clear the route to the center of the district," Badghis Deputy Governor Qamruddin Shekib said on Thursday. For their part, military officials in the area have expressed satisfaction with the way the holy warrior offensive was handled by the security forces, emphasizing the important role air-support played. "The role of our air force was very effective in this operation, and logistics had an important role as well," 207 Battalion Commander General Taj Muhammad told TOLOnews. "Our forces were transported to the area by the air force, which was very effective." Since the Taliban advance was beaten back, additional Afghan National Army (ANA) units have been stationed in Jawand. |
| Posted by:Fred |