BALKH - A clash that started late Saturday night in Mazar-e-Sharif, capital of Balkh province, is still ongoing. Security forces have surrounded the house of Nizamuddin Qaisari, the former police chief of Faryab’s Qaisar district, police officials confirmed.
Afghan helicopters targeted the house of Nizamuddin Qaisari, and “special forces have arrived at the scene,” said police officials.
The clashes between security forces and Qaisari fighters started at 11:30 pm local time in PD5 of Mazar-s-Sharif after the security forces launched an operation to arrest Qaisari, said Gen. Mohammad Ajmal Fayez, provincial police chief.
The illegally-armed men affiliated with Qaisari recently "destabilized the security situation in the city" and an “arrest warrant has been issued,” officials said, adding that “Qaisari is fighting against police forces with his 150 armed men.”
“The arrested warrant has been issued after the residents complained against Qaisari,” officials said.
Nearby houses have been damaged in the shootings, said Najibullah, a resident: “Our house was damaged in the shooting and is very close to the house where Qaisari is living.”
Qaisari was formerly held by the National Directorate of Security (NDS), but was recently freed.
Qaisari was arrested by the Afghan commandos in July after being accused of “insulting” the government, employing illegal armed men and violating human rights.
Qaisari’s job had been suspended and travel ban had been put on him, according to source.
Before his release, Qaisari appeared at a ceremony at first Vice President General Abdul Rashid Dostum’s residence in Kabul where he met a number of his supporters.
Qaisari is a close aide to Dostum. (TOLO NEWS)