‘We are ready to respond to Taliban attacks’: ANDSF

Monitoring Desk

KABUL: Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in Helmand province said on Tuesday that they are prepared to “respond forcefully” to Taliban possible attacks.

A senior delegation of the Ministry of Defense (MoD), while visiting Sangin district in Helmand province, emphasized that they will respond if the Taliban resumes fighting.

“We want peace, and everyone wants peace in the country. We want peace with dignity,” said Gen. Iqbal Ali Naderi, deputy chief of staff of the army.

“If the Taliban do not keep their commitments, the Afghan forces are ready to respond to the Taliban attacks as we did in the past,” said General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, commander of 215 Maiwand Military Corps.

This comes as the reduction in violence (RIV) week ended in Afghanistan, and, according to a document seen by Tolonews, the Taliban military commission has ordered the fighters to resume attacks on Afghan forces.

Military personnel in Sangin district said they witnessed reduced violence during the 7 days of the RIV week.

“We have been in Sangin for the last four years. For the last 13 or 14 days the situation was normal. We are now ready to respond to attacks,” said Mohammad Din, a soldier in Sangin district.

“When I came here the first time, I was very unhappy, homes were destroyed,” said Zabiullah, another soldier in the district.

“There was war before the (partial) ceasefire. Now the situation is very good. All the people are happy in the situations,” said Nasratullah, a soldier.

Around the checkpoint in Sangin there are no civilians to talk about the situation of the district.

Besides Sangin district, Musa Qala and Nawzad districts are also under control of the Taliban.

Sangin district has long been a notoriously bloody district in the history of the conflict. Many clashes have occurred between Afghan forces and the Taliban, and the Taliban often took control of it.

TOLOnews reporters traveled to other highly dangerous areas as well, including Chak district in MaidanWardak province, and Andar district in Ghazni province, and soldiers there also said that for the last ten days–during the reduction in violence period–the fighting was greatly reduced.(TOLOnews)