Some Afghan police join Taliban in Farah province
From Masoud Popalzai, CNN
July 24, 2012 -- Updated 1629 GMT (0029 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- A police commander took 13 junior officers and equipment with him to join the Taliban
- The defections were a first in Farah province, said a provincial spokesman
- The Taliban has been active in the province, officials say
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A police commander and 13 junior officers in western Afghanistan have joined the Taliban in a move that is new and troubling for the struggling nation as international forces prepare to depart.
The commander, known only as Mirwais, had been with the Afghan National Police for a year and was in charge of two police stations and 20 officers in the Bala Boluk district of western Farah province, bordering Iran, said Abdul Rahman Zhewandai, a spokesman for the provincial governor.
He said the seven officers who refused to defect with Mirwais were found poisoned but they all survived.
Why women face challenges in Afghanistan
Report: Afghanistan war mishandled
Bombers kill dozens in Afghanistan
Mirwais absconded with two police vehicles and 20 light and heavy machine guns -- including AK-47 rifles -- and rocket-propelled grenades, Zhewandai said.
Read more: Afghanistan Crossroads
Farah province is one of the most insecure areas of western Afghanistan, which is relatively calm compared to other regions. Zhewandai said the police defections were a first.
Mirwais belonged to the Taliban when the militants controlled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, when a U.S. invasion ousted them from power, Zhewandai said.
The defection comes at a time when the United States and its NATO allies are trying to prop up Afghan forces to take over the nation's security.
There have been several incidents of Afghans turning their guns on their international counterparts, including one Sunday when an Afghan policeman opened fire at a training center in western Afghanistan. Three Americans, most likely trainers at the West Zone Police Training Center in Herat province, were killed, along with the shooter.
Violence has also been on an uptick in strategically located Farah province, where the Taliban has been active.
In May, suicide attackers with explosives stormed the governor's compound, killing themselves and seven people.
In April, a Taliban attack in the province killed eight policemen.
Part of complete coverage on
April 2, 2013 -- Updated 0135 GMT (0935 HKT)
CNN's Anna Coren reports on how U.S. Special Forces are not just fighting terrorists in Afghanistan.
April 1, 2013 -- Updated 1054 GMT (1854 HKT)
With U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan, CNN's Anna Coren reports on a Taliban firefight lasting more than 90 minutes.
April 1, 2013 -- Updated 1454 GMT (2254 HKT)
Mallika Kapur has the story of a young Afghan graffiti artist who, despite Taliban threats, pushes for free expression.
-- Updated GMT ( HKT)
For the first time, a Pakistan government served its full term and the lack of a military coup attempt shows government is more stable than many think.
February 16, 2013 -- Updated 1622 GMT (0022 HKT)
President Obama has revealed new details about the troop withdrawal. But there are several key issues that still must be resolved.
February 11, 2013 -- Updated 1235 GMT (2035 HKT)
Author William Dalrymple's new book "Return of a King" looks at the history of foreign-led wars in Afghanistan.
CNN.com's 'Home and Away' initiative honors the lives of U.S. and coalition troops who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.
February 12, 2013 -- Updated 1528 GMT (2328 HKT)
Former Army Staff Sgt. Clint Romesha receives the Medal of Honor for his role in one of the worst ground attacks of the Afghanistan war.
February 12, 2013 -- Updated 2118 GMT (0518 HKT)
On Monday Esquire magazine published a massive profile of the Navy SEAL who says he shot Osama bin Laden.
The mother of a little Afghan girl cannot face her daughter. She looks down in shame as she explains why she must hand her over to drug lords.
January 27, 2013 -- Updated 2221 GMT (0621 HKT)
Aman Mojadidi, an American of Afghan descent, is an artist who has worked in Kabul and chosen particularly provocative themes.
January 10, 2013 -- Updated 1614 GMT (0014 HKT)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with President Barack Obama to discuss the post-2014 American presence in Afghanistan.
U.S. underestimates importance of Islam in making Afghanistan a better place, say authors.
November 30, 2012 -- Updated 0228 GMT (1028 HKT)
The number of people forced to flee their homes is increasing and the conditions for the displaced are far below international standards.
June 8, 2012 -- Updated 1924 GMT (0324 HKT)
Unexploded munitions from war games in Afghanistan make a dangerous play ground for local children.
Her story of torture by the Taliban made her the iconic face of the oppression of women in Afghanistan.
Today's five most popular stories
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|