Kajran villagers take up arms against local Taliban fighters

KAJRAN, AFGHANISTAN

06.02.2011

Story by Lt. Arlo Abrahamson 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

KAJRAN, Afghanistan – Local citizens in the Kajran District of Uruzgan province decided to take up arms and protect their villages after receiving threats from local Taliban fighters, June 2.

An Afghan local police commander said nearly 40 villagers gathered near two checkpoints to form a protective posture around their villages. An elder from the area said Taliban fighters have routinely threatened the villages and are trying to intimidate local citizens.

A U.S. special operations team leader who is familiar with the region said the local population has been resistant to Taliban activity.

“The Taliban are out there, but they know the people here don’t accept their ways of doing things,” said the U.S. special operations team leader. “The people’s actions today show they won’t back down to Taliban threats or intimidation.”

An ANP official said the attacks place strain on the local economy, affecting residents of the Kajran District. “ALP is the path to security in this area,” said an Afghan national police official who works in the district. “ALP can bring better security to the area, helping the economy, and helping the people.”

Afghan local police are selected by village elders and the local shura to provide protection from insurgents and other hostile forces threatening the local population. The program is connected to all levels of government in Afghanistan and is administered by the Afghan Ministry of Interior.

• Date Taken: 06.02.2011
• Date Posted: 06.04.2011 03:17
• Story ID: 71579
• Location: KAJRAN, AF