Demonstration in Kabul over Malistan & Jaghori Insecurity

Hundreds of people starts marching late Sunday night from the western part of Kabul city to the Presidential Palace.

Hundreds of protesters marched through the night from the western parts of Kabul to the city center, close to the Presidential Palace, in protest against what they say is neglect on the part of government to secure large parts of Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.

The protesters accuse government is not providing enough security to the central parts of the country especially in Khas Uruzgan district of Uruzgan province, Malistan and Jaghori districts of Ghazni province, which is home to mostly Hazara people.

The march started late Sunday night by a few demonstrators but as they marched through the night their numbers grew. By early Monday morning hundreds of protesters had made their way close to the Presidential Palace.
The protesters said, General Murad Ali Murad the Kabul Garrison Chief, had tried to stop them from marching and said they sent representatives to discuss the issues but the protesters refused and continued their march.

Despite government having sent in reinforcement troops to some of the central areas, reports out of Malistan and Jaghori districts say security is not good.

Reports also indicate that in the past few days dozen of commando troops have been killed in the districts and the districts are under Taliban siege.

The protesters called on the National Unity Government (NUG) to clear Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori and Malistan districts of Taliban and to send in emergency humanitarian aid to displaced residents, along with extra, permanent, troops to the areas and to establish a military corps in the region.

The protesters said if their demands are not addressed they will continue their protest and will call for wide-spread action across the country.

This comes after Taliban last week launched group attacks from several directions on Jaghori district, one of Afghanistan’s most secure districts in Ghazni province.

Ghazni has 18 districts, of which Malistan, Jaghori and Nawor districts have always been relatively secure. The other districts have often witnessed heavy clashes between Afghan Military forces and the Taliban.