Faryab’s Tilan area again falls after massive rebel raid

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): More than 1000 Taliban insurgents spearheaded by a notorious commander attacked the strategic area of Tilan in Pashtunkot district of northern Faryab province and the ensuing clash was underway, officials said on Monday.

Mohammad Tahir Rahmani, the provincial council head, told Pajhwok Afghan News as government and uprising forces after purging the Tilan area of insurgents returned last week, the insurgents led by their shadow governor on Sunday staged a comeback on 350 motorcycles, two Humvees, four vehicles and again waged coordinated attacks on bases of the uprising and security forces in the area.

“The insurgents numbering more than 1000 had support from other districts and security and uprising forces fought until they ran out of ammunition. The forces then retreated from Tilan and entrenched themselves at highlands.”

He said during the clash at least 20 Taliban insurgents were killed and wounded and two uprising commanders were also killed and four other uprising members wounded.

The provincial council head said some tanks and ammunition reached the security forces on Monday and the lost villages would be soon regained and cleared of insurgents.

The uprising forces in Pashtunkot district encompassing 40 villages are being commanded by the father and a brother of Rahmani.

Brig. Gen. Abdul Nabi Ilham, Faryab police chief, confirmed the attack in Tilan area and said stiff resistance by uprising and security forces resulted in the killing of at least seven insurgents and injuries to another 12.

He said reinforcements had been dispatched to the scene and the insurgents would be driven from the area soon.

However, a security official, wishing anonymity, said the Tilan area fell to insurgents on Sunday night and three uprising members including a commander, Allah Dad, were killed during the clash and four others were missing.

There has been so far no word from the insurgents over the attack on Tilan.

sns/ma