SHEBERGHAN - The First Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum said at a meeting on Tuesday with security forces in Sheberghan city in Jawzjan province that the enemy has suffered a heavy casualty toll across the country in clashes with security forces but that he will see to it that insurgents pay for what they did to the people and security forces in Kunduz.

"We are aware of what the cowards [the Taliban] did in Kunduz and we will take revenge," Dostum told the gathering.

Dostum who arrived in Jawzjan on Tuesday met with troops in a bid to boost morale and called on them to keep the Afghan flag flying high. "We are with the security forces of the country. I am supporting you and I am with you," he added.

"We will take revenge of the blood of our soldiers who were shot dead," he said.

He said the international community has pledged to help the Afghan security forces – including the air force – to stand on their own feet.

Referring to US President Barack Obama's decision to delay troop draw down, Dostum said: "The US is standing with us [Afghanistan] after 2016."

In addition he called on troops in Ghormach district in Faryab province to not lose hope and said reinforcements will reach them soon.

Dostum also said that servants of foreign countries will be arrested, or they will be suppressed. "We will arrest the ISI (Pakistan's intelligence services) servants and we will let no stranger interfere in Afghanistan," he added.

Dostum meanwhile vowed to resolve problems faced by the Afghan air force after he completes his mission – to clear Jawzjan and other provinces of insurgents.

Before the fall of Kunduz to the Taliban, the first vice president traveled to Faryab and cleared a number of areas of militants; however, parts of the cleared areas were retaken by the Taliban after he returned to Kabul. (Tolonews)