Reports have emerged that just hours before the Taliban took control of Dahna-e-Ghori, the Baghlan provincial police chief allegedly ordered the head of operations to hand over all responsibilities to an unnamed person and return to Pul-e-Khumri, the provincial capital.
A TOLOnews investigation found that following the orders, government forces allegedly responded quickly and retreated from the district – without a single bullet being fired off.
The fall of Baghlan’s Dahna-e-Ghori district meanwhile sparked questions among some top local authorities including the provincial governor, Abdul Sattar Barez, who said he has called for a full investigation into the incident.
However, battles are ongoing and have escalated in areas around Pul-e-Khumri city – following the infiltration by Taliban into the area.
Reports have meanwhile also emerged that security forces are allegedly fighting battles without accurate intelligence on the presence of armed opponents in the area.
Last week, the security forces reportedly shelled a compound in the area but later realized no insurgents were present at the time.
However, officials said about 600 security force members had been deployed to Dahna-e-Ghori before the takeover, but Taliban numbers are estimated to be about 300.
“Besides the opponents and enemy, armed men with black masks are currently present in Dahna-e-Ghori,” said Abdul Ghafar Ehsan, the commander of the 2nd Battaltion of 209 Shaheen Army Corps.
TOLOnews found that the Baghlan police chief allegedly ordered Sayed Zaiwar Shah Sadat, the head of operation for Dahna-e-Ghori, to hand over responsibility to someone else and return to Pul-e-Khumri. According to troops in the area they took mostly all military equipment with them when they retreated.
When asked to comment on the incident, the Baghlan police chief said that the Ministry of Interior (MoI) had ordered police chiefs of Baghlan, Kunduz, Takhar and Badakhshan provinces not to share information with the media about current battles.
But, the Baghlan governor did say he has requested a full investigation into the incident.
“Terrorists have gathered here from three or four provinces and they are planning to launch a massive operation on our check points,” said Barez, the governor.
However, overall security along the Baghlan-Kunduz highway has also deteriorated and those traveling out of Pul-e-Khumri city have said they are afraid the Taliban may ambush security forces.
Meanwhile, officials in Baghlan-e-Markazi district have said that insurgents have flocked into Baghlan from several neighboring provinces.
Baghlan has strategic importance as it connects the center of the country with northern provinces and some central Asian countries including Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
Security experts said that the presence of Taliban in Baghlan can damage Afghanistan’s relations with these countries as it also threatens the stability of the northern parts of Afghanistan.http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/26791-questions-raised-over-sudden-fall-of-baghlans-dahna-e-ghori
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