Afghanistan Times
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AT Monitoring Desk-KABUL: A Taliban commander and his six comrades have surrendered to the National Directorate of Security (NDS) in northern Baghlan province, said an official on Monday.
The militant commander was identified as Muhammad Wari Ewaz, who had seized Tala Wa Barfak district in the province. He has renounced violence along with his six fighters and joined the peace process.
They handed over two rocket launchers, a Kalashnikov and a machinegun to the NDS.
The commander, who had battled against the government forces in the Tala Wa Barfak district of the province has finally joined peace drive along with six other fighters after efforts made by the NDS, the provincial governor Abdul Sattar Barez told Pajhwok Afghan News.
“Over the past three years, I have been fighting against the government. But now I have seen the reality and renounced violence,” Wari Ewaz said, recalling his crucial role in the fall of Tala Wa Barfak district.
“When the security forces tried to retake the town, I was directed by the senior rebel commanders to leave the district centre and burn the building. I replied the building is a national asset, and asked that why I should set it ablaze. I realized the Taliban are controlled by outsiders and decided against damaging my own country,” he said.
Asking for help from the government, the commander demanded security and work opportunities for himself and his comrades who renounced violence.
Meanwhile, the chief of the provincial peace committee Abdul Samad Stanikzai paid a warm welcome to the surrendering fighters and said that he is committed to pay each fighter Afs6,000 per month and Afs13,000 to the commander for the next six months.
