MPs warn govt not to take military approach to arrest Alipour

As the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) carry out operations in Behsud district in Maidan Wardak province to arrest militia commander Abdul Ghani Alipour some MPs on Tuesday said a military approach is not the solution.

These MPs said a military tactic will complicate matters further.

This comes after government officials accused Alipour’s men of having shot down an Mi-17 military helicopter on Thursday in the district.

Four crew members and five ANDSF members were killed in the crash.

Footage on social media shows what appears to be a missile hitting the helicopter.

Alipour, who is commander of the local public uprising forces – who have fought off the Taliban and Daesh in the area – has however denied his men’s involvement in the incident, stating that the chopper was shot from the air “.. I don’t have an air force.”

In a sound clip released on social media, Alipour stated: “I did not say that I have shot the helicopter, I said clashes were underway and a bullet could have hit the helicopter which led to its crash.”

This comes after some Iranian media outlet reported over the weekend that Alipour stated his men had shot the helicopter down.

“Now, they (government) released a video that shows a missile hit the helicopter, we have nothing to fire one with from the air. Maybe those who are filming from the air shot it. If it was me, I would from the ground not from the air because we have only got RPG rockets and have no access to missiles,” Alipour said.

Meanwhile, the MoD said in a statement Monday that Alipour’s command center was captured by the Afghan forces and a number of weapons and explosives were also seized during the raid.

The Political Deputy of the High Council for National Reconciliation, Asadullah Saadati stated: “USA and NATO should stop Afghan government using ANA, ANP, and ANDSF against the people.”

“It did so twice against Hazara in Behsud and Herat which led to dozens of innocent civilians dead and wounded. It plans to shed the blood of Behsud people by using Alipour as an excuse, he said.

Saadati further stated: “I still do not understand the behind-the-scenes battle cries of government leaders. Is Alipour very powerful? Or is government weak? Or is there a problem with my understanding.”

A number of MPs said Tuesday that the deployment of troops to Bihsud makes reaching a resolution more complicated.

“Current situation would undermine the government’s credibility among the people, and would cut productive ties between the government and the people,” MP Abdul Qayyum Sajjadi said.

On the other hand, a number of experts say that Alipour must be prosecuted as he has committed a crime.

“He committed a major crime and anyone defending him is also a criminal,” said Atiqullah Amarkhil, a military expert.

Fawad Aman, a deputy spokesman for the MoD said: “Alipour will be arrested, efforts are underway.”