KABUL - The police chief for northern Baghlan province on Thursday said they could not effectively fight against Taliban militants for lacking needed equipment.
Col. Noor Habib Gulbahari expressed his concern about the weak morale of security forces in the province after sustaining heavy losses. He said the police forces lacked the ability to fight against rebels.
“The military gear and equipment security forces possess in Baghlan are insufficient for operations and that’s why the Afghan forces suffer many casualties,” he said.
He said security forces were tired of fighting during operations in Barka, Nehrin, Baghlan-i-Markazi and Dand Ghori districts due to the lack of needed equipment and during these operations, the Afghan forces had been many times besieged, prompting calls for airstrikes.
He said the operation to recapture Surkh Kotal area was conducted during the holy month of Ramadan and the offensive took five days due to the lack of military equipment.
But Governor Abdul Sattar Bariz rejected the police chief’s assertions, saying the police in Baghlan had the ability to thwart all kinds of threats.
He said militants had suffered the most during security operations in the province and the security forces were ready and prepared to defend the soil and the people and would never allow the enemies to reach their goals.
A resident of Pul-i-Khumri, the provincial capital, said militants operated two kilometers from the provincial capital. He urged the government to pay special attention to the security of the city and on highways in order people could be rescued from the bad security environment.(Pajhwok)