KABUL - The first Vice-President General Abdul Rashid Dostum on Saturday said that the Taliban are enemies of Afghans, and that he will never call them 'brothers'.

In an exclusive interview with TOLOnews, Dostum – who is currently visiting battle-weary Faryab province – said there are a number of people inside government that have paved the way for insurgents to destabilize northern parts of the country and that these individuals will be introduced to people very soon. He said that if these individuals don't work in the favor of insurgents and don't help them they cannot carry on their activities.

Dostum told TOLOnews that the Taliban in the north are supported by a number of figures inside the government.

"We are not denying the fact that there are a number of individuals inside the government that help militants. It is the intelligence agency's duty to find these figures and make public their names," he said.

Dostum has set a two-day deadline for the Taliban in Faryab to lay down their arms or else they will be eliminated.

"We are talking from experience. I know that it is like this. It will be revealed. When the situation becomes suitable and security stabilizes they will be unveiled. They will be trialed. They have to be trialed," he added.

He said that the Taliban militants are killing innocent people and have committed war crimes therefore he will never call them brothers - rather he considers them as enemies of Afghans.

"Which kind of brother is this that kills people inside mosques, shopkeepers, poor people. This group should be termed as enemies of the people of Afghanistan. Yes we call them enemy too ... I have never called them brother. This is not the way of brotherhood, " he said.

"The Taliban told us in response that they will accept any kind of direction. Hope this happens. Our first plan is to disarm at least 2,000 Taliban fighters," he added.

He said war is not the solution therefore he urged militants to lay down their arms and quit insurgency or else they will be killed.

Dostum rejected the rumors about forming militia and termed it as a plot against him. He said that his visit to Faryab is aimed at advising security forces. (Tolonews)