MAYMANA, Afghanistan: Taleban warring parties paraded thru a northwest Afghan town in a display of energy on the weekend, days after reinforcements have been despatched to quell unrest over the detention of a well-liked commander. Protests erupted remaining week in Maymana, capital of Faryab province, after an Uzbek Taleban commander was once detained for alleged hyperlinks to a kidnapping plot.
The unrest sparked fears of tensions between Uzbek and Pashtun civilians and Taleban warring parties, with unconfirmed stories that contributors of each ethnic teams have been killed in remoted clashes. “We deployed loads of forces from neighbouring provinces and the location is beneath keep watch over now,” Latifullah Hakimi, a senior defence ministry authentic, advised AFP on the weekend.
Sunday’s parade incorporated columns of masked warring parties clad in matching white shalwar kameez tunics, khaki fight vests, and headscarves inscribed with the Muslim declaration of religion. Dozens extra closely armed warring parties in jungle camouflage rode at the again of pick-up vans and armoured automobiles, seized from Afghan executive and US forces all the way through the Taleban’s lightning-fast summer time takeover.
Citizens of Maymana coated the direction, many stony-faced as they filmed the parade with their telephone cameras. “Two days in the past the location was once now not just right as a result of the demonstration, however now the location is customary,” mentioned Rohullah, a 20-year-old shopkeeper. “The one drawback we now have is that folks don’t have jobs… however they’re more than pleased with the safety.” The display of power comes as Afghanistan’s new rulers fight to adapt from an insurgency to a governing energy in a rustic on the point of financial cave in, with the United Countries estimating greater than part the inhabitants is going through acute starvation.
Self-discipline a few of the rank and document — specifically in faraway spaces — is changing into an issue, with native commanders ignoring edicts from Kabul or enforcing orders to their very own whim. Promising a softer rule than their 1996-2001 regime, the Taleban have introduced a fee to spot contributors flouting rules — disregarding nearly 3,000 folks. “We had an army parade within the town to guarantee the folk that we can now not let any individual interrupt safety,” mentioned Jaweed, a Maymana commander who like many is going by means of just one identify. – AFP