Fazlullah leads Taliban assault on Nuristan


Express May 26, 2010

KARACHI: Hundreds of Pakistan-based Taliban have launched an attack in the Afghan province of Nuristan and, according to local authorities, fierce fighting is continuing there, BBC Urdu reported on Wednesday.

About 300 Taliban, led by Maulana Fazalullah, had entered the district Bargh-e-Matal district of Nuristan province on Monday. The Afghan home ministry spokesperson said seven Taliban and three police officials were killed in the fight. Fazalullah, who led rebellion in Swat in 2008, had gone underground following a large military offensive in his area. However, the media reports said he had moved quietly to Afghanistan with his loyalists a few months ago.

Jamaluddin Badar, the governor of Nuristan, said the arms recovered from the dead Taliban are of Hungarian make and identical to those used by the Afghan security forces. He alleged that the former provincial officials had sold out these weapons. Nuristan police said that about 250 local men fought along with them against the invaders. They appealed to the Afghan home ministry to send international army and ammunition to remote areas. Meanwhile, International Committee of the Red Cross said that it is training Taliban in Afghanistan to administer first aid. According to the organisation, 70 Taliban received training last month.

According to the ICRC, many of the sick or injured Afghans fail to reach hospitals because of the war or damaged roads. Therefore, it has decided to impart first-aid training to people directly involved in the war. According to the Guardian newspaper, while commenting on this programme, a Nato spokesperson in Afghanistan said, “Nato highly appreciates the work of ICRC and we know that this job has to be accomplished impartially.” ICRC workers have already trained more than 100 Afghan security officials in administering first aid.

Published in the Express Tribune, May 27th, 2010.

COMMENTS (3)

abdul huq | 14 years ago | Reply The problem in Nuristan is its governor jamaluddin badar who has not been to the provincial capital of Nuristan ( Parun) for the last 8 months along with his provincial police chief. the governor and the police chief have been refered to the Attorney generals office for corruption, misuse of authority and continued absence from Nuristan by the newly elected provincial council of Nuristan.
Sadia Hussain | 14 years ago | Reply This should be an example for those who wish to hold peace talks with Taliban. As no matter how much space is given to these militants they will not forgo bloodshed. Negotiations are bound to fail with non-state actors.
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