KABUL - The Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) on Saturday summoned key security officials to answer questions over the growing spate of Taliban threats targeting the strategic provinces and towns.
Those summoned before parliament were the Minister of Interior Noorulhaq Ulomi, acting minister of defense Masoom Stanekzai and acting chief of National Directorate of Security (NDS) Masoud Andarabi.
In their remarks before the lawmakers, the security officials said that the Taliban has been trying to shift their war to some strategic provinces - including Nangarhar, Helmand, Kunduz and Kabul.
Emotions however ran high in parliament as lawmakers demanded answers from the high-ranking officials – who told MPs that the Afghan security forces are committed to continuing their military campaigns and special operations against the Taliban.
Concerns have grown in recent weeks after reports surfaced of a possible shift in the geography of the war, with threats growing against villages and highways and reports that Afghan forces on the frontline are still on the defensive opposed to the offensive.
"Taliban are likely willing to continue their bloodshed and war, the security forces must learn from their experiences during the past four months and move the plan for the next four months on the basis of the experience in the past," Andarabi said.
Responding to a question about some countries using the Taliban against Daesh, the NDS chief said that the Taliban has been requested to defeat Daesh.
"Taliban has been contacted to use all resources to suppress Daesh in their quest to reach their objectives," he said.
But he said security forces have defeated Daesh in Zabul, Farah and Helmand, adding that government is itself committed to root out the group in the country.
"Since its formation, the National Unity Government has been determined to combat Daesh effectively, government is committed to eliminate Daesh in Nangarhar province as well," he added.
"We have prepared a strategy to eliminate the Taliban, al-Qaeda, Daesh and other terror groups from central Asia who intend to take a foothold in Afghanistan. The security forces have formulated inclusive programs to deal with the issue," Ulomi said.
"Anyone who takes up arms against the system has the status of an enemy to us and will be suppressed, because their action is against the constitution and the system. Such elements would be the target of the security forces of the country," acting defense minister Stanekzai told the lawmakers on Saturday.
"The strategy is not acceptable to the people, the security institutions must form more inclusive strategies and share it with the parliamentary commissions on security," the speaker of the Wolesi Jirga Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said. (Tolonews)