KABUL - The first deputy speaker of Wolesi Jirga or lower house of parliament on Saturday criticized the government’s performance against Islamic State (IS) or Daesh militants, saying reports about the group’s suppression were ‘false’.
However, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said military operations against Daesh were underway in eastern Nangarhar as ominous plans of the group had already been neutralized.
Wolesi Jirga’s first deputy speaker Haji Zahir Qadir told today’s session that Daesh were trying to convert a province in the east or northwestern region of the country into their center.
He questioned a wide reemergence of Daesh in Nangarhar and said reports about the outfit’s defeat the government had shared with the media were untrue.
Qadir also showed his readiness to fight against IS militants and clear Barpachir area of Pachiragam district of Nangarhar from their presence. Barpachir area has recently fallen under Daesh control.
“If the militants are not eliminated once and for all, they would find access to Tora Bora area of Pachiragam and try to convert Afghanistan into the center of a Daesh Khorasan,” the lawmaker said.
The Syria and Iraq-based Daesh group has announced the establishment of its formal affiliate in Khorasan, a wide area encompassing Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Iran and Central Asian countries and Bangladesh.
However, Qadir said he had readied his supporters for fighting against Daesh and preventing Afghanistan from becoming Daesh Khrasan.
“My armed group is ready to operate under the government framework or we would independently operate for a complete elimination of IS militants,” he said.
Daesh militants were currently active in many provinces of Afghanistan and posed a dangerous threat to the country if not prevented, he added.
“The Afghan forces are busy fighting Daesh militants in most areas of the country while unknown helicopters at midnight drop food to Taliban rebels,” he said, without giving more details.
Deputy MoD spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Radminsh, called Qadir’s speech as a threat to Afghan forces but said operations against Daesh were underway in Pachiragam district.
He said 27 Daesh militants were killed and a number of their hideouts destroyed during the past 24 hours in Nangarhar.
Daesh insurgents were unable to threaten security of Nangarhar districts, he said.
A year back, Haji Zahir Qadir along with hundreds of his armed supporters carried out raids against Daesh for three months. After his operations ended, he returned to Kabul and told the lower house that Daesh members were living in Kabul.
He said IS officials in Kabul had government support, particularly of the National Security Advisor.
However, National Security Council (NSC) and the Ministry of Interior had rejected Qadir’s allegations as unfounded.
At that time, President Ashraf Ghani appointed a delegation to investigate Qadir’s claims, but result of the investigation was yet to be announced.
Qadir today also criticized government leaders over their differences and said the leaders should put their differences aside and listen to the demands of the nation.
“Unfortunately our political leaders have no political sense, that is why our military techniques always fail and our enemy are dominant,” he said.
Qadir also stressed national unity, particularly among people’s representatives.
He said he would visit Nangarhar for three days to assess the ongoing problems there and share his report with Wolesi Jirga members on return.
Differences among the president and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) have long been running.
First vice-president Gen. Abdul Rashid Dostum recently accused the president and the CEO of tribal discrimination and said the two leaders were pushing the country towards destruction with their wrong policies. (Pajhwok)