Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: A 20-member group of Taliban fighters including a powerful commander Mullah Daud also known as Habash has denounced violence and reintegrated into civil society by joining the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process in the southern Helmand province, provincial official said Sunday.
“A total of 20 insurgents including Taliban commander Mullah Daud alias Habash laid down arms and surrendered to government yesterday (Saturday),” Xinhua news agency quoted provincial governor spokesman Hayatullah Hayat, as saying.
He said that the surrender commander Habash and his fighter were involved in different anti-government activities in Washir district over past couple of years.
“The surrender of the group to the government would definitely inspire more militants to follow the step and shun violence,” he added.
Karim Atal, the head of Helmand’s provincial council has also confirmed that Mullah Habash along with 19 armed men handed over their weapons to government and vowed to struggle for returning peace in the restive province.
Taliban militants are yet to make comment on the report.
The surrendering took place where recently there was heavy clashes erupted between Afghan security forces and the Taliban insurgents in which Taliban sustained heavy casualties.
According to security officials in that, two dozen of the Taliban insurgents were killed in an airstrike carried in Nad Ali district of Helmand province.
“An airstrike targeted Taliban’s hideouts in ChahInjeer areas of Nad Ali district, in which 24 Taliban insurgents were killed and four others wounded,” Spokesman for Defense Ministry DawlatWaziri told Afghanistan Times in that time.
It is worth mentioning that recently, the Taliban militants have launched a series of attacks to capture strategic districts and provinces. But the Taliban insurgents despite intensified fighting against Afghan security forces in Helmand and Kunduz provinces, they (Taliban) have failed to capture any districts. They (Taliban) captured Khanabad district of Kunduz province, but it was for a short time. Afghan security forces repulsed Taliban attack across the country with high spirit and intention.
