20 May 2017

News Story: Jamiat Leaders Warn of Daesh, Taliban Danger in Northern Regions

By Anisa Shaheed

Balkh governor Atta Mohammad Noor warned Tuesday that the increase in Taliban and Daesh operatives in the north posed serious threats to the safety of the north and called on all political parties in the country to unite against the insurgents.  

Regarding ongoing speculation around foreign support to militant groups in Afghanistan, Noor said that there are certain countries in the region that are equipping the Taliban and Daesh.

Noor said that government so far has not managed to define a good counter-terror strategy to defeat the militants and went as far as to say if action is not taken the north could turn into another Syria.

“The Taliban today have split into four factions, the fabricated Daesh is also a peril for the north. The white flags changed into black ones (referring to the white flag of Taliban and the black flag of Daesh). Helicopters land in their (Daesh, Taliban) areas, but I don’t know if these helicopters come from this side or that side of Amu (Amu River border) or from beyond the Durand Line. Helicopters supply them (insurgents) with motorcycles. The proxy war is ongoing and thousands of our people become the victims,” said Noor.

He warned of an ethnic war in the country if government does not take serious action to eliminate the militants.

These remarks were made at a Jamiat-e-Islami event to mark the first death anniversary of Rasoul Mohseni, the former chairman of Baghlan provincial council.

The gathering was also attended by a number of Afghan politicians, members of the Jamiat-e-Islami party as well as Hizb-e-Islami chairman Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal.

Read the full story at TOLOnews