KABUL - Meshrano Jirga chairman Fazl Hadi Muslimyar on Sunday said if the government provided one-third of the facilities that Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum had in the north, elders in the east would eliminate all insurgents.

First Vice-President Dostum has been leading military operations against insurgents in northern provinces, where some areas have been cleared of the rebels.

It is said thousands of security forces and anti-Taliban militias have been taking part in the operations that cost almost $30 millions. After Dostum returned to Kabul around two weeks back, some areas fell to the insurgents in quick succession.

Muslimyar said it had been six months the people in Nangarhar were getting killed but nobody was paying any heed to them.

He said the people in eastern province had surrendered their weapons to the government 10 years back and now it was government’s responsibility to ensure their security.

Last week, elders and lawmakers from eastern provinces at a gathering in Kabul urged the government to launch clearing operations or people would rise in arms against them.

The Senate chairman said the eastern people were in favour of peace but currently they needed security, for which they had no choice but to take some steps.

He said if the government provided one-third of the facilities Gen. Dostum enjoyed in the north, people in the east would easily vanquish Taliban and Daesh fighters.

He alleged the government’s indifference towards the east’s security was because no one from these provinces held a top position in the regime. (Pajhwok)