Afghanistan Times
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AT-KABUL: The Ministry of Interior (MoI) said Sunday that security forces have the capacity and capability to fend off militant attacks and threats posed by anti-state elements, and are well capable of ensuring citizens’ safety.
The MoI spokesman, Sediq Sediqi, told newsmen that security forces own now the things which they lacked in previous years, (in terms of capacity and equipment).
“Our men in uniform have been able this year to chalk out security plans and offensives on their own which of course is a biggest achievement,” he said.
“Security forces are competent enough than the past years when for the first time they shouldered security responsibilities. We are trying to overcome the shortcomings if there are any. Since we have picked up strength therefore our policy has been drastically changed—from defensive mode to offensive mode,” he said.
Hinting at Zulfaqar Operation in Sangin district of southern Helmand province, Sediqi said that at least 14 villages were cleared of militants during the operation, and they were trying to boost up security in other areas as well.
According to security officials, Zulfaqar is the first independent military operation of Afghan security forces which will be extended to all restive districts of Helmand.
Officials in the MoI said that nearly 400 militants including a number of their commanders have been killed in military operations in Helmand, Kandahar, Farah and Uruzgan.
Sediqi said that crackdowns had been kicked off in 12 provinces. “In order to overcome security threats in parts of the country, we conducted small and big military operations in 12 provinces,” he added.
The remarks by the MoI spokesman come as officials in the US spy agency have said that some parts of Afghanistan would come under control of the Taliban in upcoming year. However, these remarks were rejected by Afghan security officials, and they termed it as baseless and as attempts and struggles to gain the advantage of the current situation.
A number of analysts in security affairs said that the Afghan security forces should be equipped with state-of-the-art equipment in a bid to thwart militant attacks and ensure law-and-order in the country.
