Kajaki District residents want change, irritated with Taliban

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

08.31.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Osvaldo Equite 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Villagers are fed up with the Taliban and ready to support Afghan Security Forces, a Helmand provincial spokesman said Aug. 25 following a meeting with villagers in Kajaki District.

Provincial Gov. Naeem Baluch and district leaders are working to bring security to the northern districts of Helmand, said Omar Zawak, the provincial spokesman.

Afghan Special Forces soldiers and Afghan Local Police met with various villagers with similar frustrations during patrols into the village Aug. 24-27.

“The populace is tired of being taxed, mistreated, and having to feed and house the Taliban,” an Afghan National Army Special Forces soldier who met many of the villagers, said. “They want security in their village.”

“We are planning to target insurgents in the northern districts,” he said, “and we want to encourage the people to stand against them and support the government.”

The village, which has not had a government presence in more than a year, was grateful to see Afghan Security Forces. Villagers said they would help staff checkpoints in the area if needed, according to the Afghan Special Forces soldier.

Afghan Security Forces also conducted the patrols to assess future locations to build Afghan Local Police checkpoints. They met with local leaders and distributed vaccines to inoculate livestock from infectious diseases.

Security is the first step in future developments, said Zawak. The insurgents hinder progress for the local residents who only want to better their lives, he added.

• Date Taken: 08.31.2013
• Date Posted: 08.31.2013 12:26
• Story ID: 112953
• Location: HELMAND PROVINCE, AF