PANJWAI DISTRICT, Afghanistan - More than 100 villagers and elders held a shura in Peshinghan village, Panjwai district, Kandahar province, Feb. 11. District residents spoke out against insurgent intimidation and harassment for the past 10 years.
An anti-Taliban leader publicly called on the Afghan government for support in order to fix roads, build schools and clinics, and improve security conditions in response to recent insurgent activity.
"We are tired of torture from the Taliban," said Abdul Wadoo, a Kakaran village elder who led the protest.
There are more than 250 Afghan Local Police members under the District Chief of Police's supervision protecting villages throughout Panjwai district. Afghan National Security Forces train the ALP recruits to help expand the village-based security force.
"We have to show support for this guy [Abdul Wadoo]! He is risking his life by talking out like this," said District Chief of Police Sultan Mohammad.
ALP complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited ANSF presence, in order to enable conditions for improved security, governance and development.