Local Officials: Foreign Fighters Operating in Laghman

Local officials confirmed to TOLOnews the presence of foreign fighters and their families in two districts of the eastern province of Laghman.

Laghman governor Rahmatullah Yarmal said that the fighters and their families are living in Alishang and Dawlat Abad districts in the province and that they are providing military training to the Taliban.

“The information we gathered shows that most of them are in Alishang and Dawlat Abad districts and in some valleys, providing training. They are from different countries and their financer is evident to everyone and there is no doubt of it,” the governor said.

“Yes, it is true. They are in Alingar and Dawlat Shah districts. They are foreign nationals and are providing training,” Laghman Police Chief Asadullah Fedaee said.

The Taliban has rejected the presence of foreign fighters among their ranks, saying they do not need foreign fighters.

Meanwhile, residents of the two districts said that families of at least 200 foreign fighters are living in the two districts.

Mohammad Sediq Haqqani, a tribal elder in Alishang district, said that foreign fighters are living in the Gori area in Alishang and the Chaklak area in Dawlat Shah district. He said most of them are Chechens.

“This is true. These people, some of them are Chechens and others cannot speak local languages. We don’t know where are they from,” Haqqani said.

Other residents of Dawlat Shah said that women with the foreign fighters are roaming in the areas with weapons and sometimes they train with horses.

“They are Uzbeks… They have no activity but they are in their homes and it is not known what is their plan,” said Abdul Ahad, a resident of Dawlat Shah district.

“This is Afghanistan. It is the ground for war like a cricket ground. Anyone does anything that they want,” said Salam Jan, a resident of Dawlat Shah district.