SHEBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people have taken up arms against Taliban outfit in the northern Jawzjan province after the armed group has intensified activities in the neighboring Saripul and Faryab provinces.
"Several hundred people gathered in Faizabad district, Jawzjan province this afternoon and vowed to support government forces in the war against Taliban rebels," a pro-government armed man Zabit Khan told Xinhua on Tuesday.
He added that the people have bought arms and ammunition with their own money to fight Taliban insurgents, and that "the remedy to eliminate Taliban rebels is mobilizing people against the hardliner group and backing government forces."
Taliban militants fighting the government to regain power, according to locals, have killed innocent civilians, destroyed schools and ruined health clinics.
"We have been fed up with the Taliban's harsh interpretation of Islam and their despotic policies," another pro-government armed commander Sahib Khan told Xinhua, warning the armed insurgents to either lay down arm or face dire consequences of the people's wrath.
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