Afghan troops 'defecting to Taliban'
Large numbers of Afghan security forces are defecting to the Taliban, reports suggest
Also In The News
|
Everton manager David Moyes has put pen to paper on a new five-year contract at Everton. |  |
Wednesday, 15, Oct 2008 08:47
A large number of Afghan civilians who work for the country's security forces have started defecting to the Taliban, reports claim.
According to the al-Jazeera the police officers and security personnel are switching sides in an attempt to force foreign troops out of the country.
Speaking to the Arabic-language broadcaster, Sulieman Ameri said he and his men had joined the Taliban to help remove American troops from Afghanistan.
"I have seen everything with my own eyes, I have seen prostitution, I have seen them drinking alcohol. We are Muslim and therefore jihad is our obligation," he said.
"Our soil is occupied by Americans and I want them to leave this country. That is my only goal."
In response Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette, a spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) in Afghanistan, denied the accusation that Isaf troops were acting disrespectfully.
"I have no specific information about any activity that would have happened in Herat but I know for sure that the Taliban and other insurgents are conducting a propaganda campaign against us. And I can confirm to you that our troops are behaving in the most respectful way," he told al-Jazeera.
"Anytime that I would hear that somebody is joining the insurgency I think it is bad news because we know the Taliban are offering nothing for the future of this country."