SHIBERGHAN - First Vice-President Abdul Rashid Dostum traveled to northern Jawzjan province to assess the security situation closely, officials said on Monday.

Kinja Kargar, deputy head of Junbish-i-Milli Party, told Pajhwok Afghan News the first VP visited Darz-Ab and Qosh-Tapa districts and met with local officials and elders to discuss security challenges.

Earlier, people had raised concerns about presence of illegal armed groups in the districts and demanded action to purge the area of anti-state elements, he added.

Mohammd Isa, a resident of Darzab, said Dostum arrived to the district via Qosh-Tapa and was warmly welcomed by locals.

 “Taliban harass us and extort money and food by force. We want the government to launch operations against them,” he added.

Col. Abdul Manan Raufi, a senior police official, said two insurgents were killed in a blast last night when they were planting roadside bomb in the district.

He clarified the blast occurred in a remote village and did not have any connection to first VP’s visit.

Meanwhile, Jawzjan police chief Faqir Mohammad Jawzjani said a 80-members rebel group joined the government initiated peace process in the presence of Dostum.

The group was led by Maulvi Niamatullah and the move would help boost security of the province, he hoped. (Pajhwok)