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Jihadi Council Distributing Weapons to 'Units': Herat Spox

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  • Jihadi Council Distributing Weapons to 'Units': Herat Spox

    Wednesday, 07 November 2012 20:26
    Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 November 2012 20:56
    Written by Jawid Zeyaratjaei




    The Jihadi Council led by Afghanistan's Energy and Water Minister Mohammad Ismail Khan
    has started distributing weapons to its members in western Herat province, the provincial
    spokesman Mahiuddin Noori said Wednesday.


    Noori warned that armed groups apart from the Afghan security forces are against the law
    and the distribution of weapons is a criminal offence.

    "In the past several months, the non-government Council of the Mujahedeen [Jihadi Council]
    has distributed weapons to the residents which is against Afghanistan's laws," Noori said on
    Wednesday, adding that there is proof of this claim.

    He showed a signed piece of paper with the Jihadi Council's appointment of a commander or
    "security official".

    "Anyone who distributes weapons apart from the government commits a crime. It is against
    the national interests of the government and the country and it will be prosecuted. The justice
    and security organs are investigating this issue," he said.

    However, Jihadi Council leaders denied the claim, although they confirmed that the men have
    grouped into "units" and appointed commanders.

    "According to the order from Ismail Khan, we have already inaugurated 30 to 40 Mujahedeen
    units and assigned their commanders. Weapons were not distributed by unit commanders,"
    Jihadi Council deputy chief Khuwaja Shamsuddin said Wednesday.

    Herat's provincial governor Dawood Shah Saba emphasised yesterday that the residents of the
    western province will not accept militias.

    "I want to clearly say that the people of Afghanistan rely on their sons as the police and army
    and national security department, which have the ability to protect the national sovereignty and
    honor of the country. They do not need any more for the agents of outsiders," the governor said
    in a gathering in Herat on Tuesday.

    The Jihadi Council was formed in Herat last year under the leadership of former Jihadi commander
    and current Energy and Water Minister Mohammad Ismail Khan.

    Last week he revealed that plans were underway to re-form the army which had fought the Soviet
    Russians in the 80s, claiming that because Nato had failed to secure Afghanistan against the
    insurgents, the Mujahedeen would do it themselves.
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