MoI accepts police surrender to oppositions in Badakhshan

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) accepted that a number of Afghan police have given up to the armed oppositions of the government in a deal and due to the weakness of intelligence agencies of the ministry.

The Taliban took control of a large police base in a remote part of northeastern Afghanistan after some 100 police and border guards surrendered and joined the insurgents following three days of fighting

The loss of the Tirgaran base in Badakhshan province late Saturday marked the largest mass surrender.

It was not clear why reinforcements were not flown into the area, though the province’s steep valleys often make aircraft landings difficult.

Spokesman of the interior ministry said that they have appointed delegations to investigate the case and identify those who involved in the incident.

“There is no doubt of weakness. Such incident would not happen if there was no weakness. We must identify enemy infiltrators,” Sidiq Sidiqi, spokesman of MoI said.

MoI claimed that they have provided all facilities and equipments for Afghan security forces and Taliban group was not able to face Afghan forces in Teer Garan base of Wardoj district.

“The interior minister has ordered that the facts reveal as soon as possible,” Sidiqi added.

The Taliban issued a statement saying it had released the 100 police officers, their local commander and the head of the local border police after making an agreement.

Last month hundreds of insurgents attacked security checkpoints in the province’s Yamgan district, forcing police to abandon them.

Elsewhere in Badakhshan, the heavy rains have left at least six people, including women and children, dead in Kofab district, said Nawid Frotan, the spokesman for the provincial governor.

Some 130 houses had been damaged or destroyed, and authorities are trying to send food and other relief to those stranded by rising waters, he said.