2,500 illegal armed groups still operate

Monitoring Desk

MAZAR-I-SHARIF: The Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups program officials on Wednesday said 2, 500 illegal armed groups continued to operate in the country’s north zone.

DIAG program chief for the northern region, Gen. Abdul Manan Abid told Pajhwok Afghan News that illegal armed groups posed huge threat to peace and stability than militants. He said illegal armed groups in northern Afghanistan had a direct negative impact on the ongoing insecurities, calling illegal armed groups more dangerous than Taliban and Daesh.

Abid said Daesh and Taliban militants were known and daily clashes with security forces but illegal armed men roamed freely in villages, cities and streets, insulting and intimidating citizens.

Without naming any party, the DIAG head said most of the illegal armed groups had the backing of political parties in the north. According to him, 2, 500 illegal armed groups have been operating in the northern region of the country.

Abid, who received 20 weapons from the provincial police headquarters, said the confiscation of these guns would not have a significant effect on the security situation. Abdul Qadir Misbah, a political expert, told Pajhwok that the presence of illegal armed men had hugely concerned local people.

Provincial deputy police chief Abdul Razeq Qadiri said police captured 20 various types of weapons during different security incidents over the past few weeks and handed the guns over to DIAG programme today. (Pajhwok)