Amanullah Zafir, acting police chief of Faryab province, has said that public uprising forces have been involved in 50 percent of the province’s operations launched so far.

Recently, security forces, along with public uprising forces, in a joint operation in the Shirin Tagab and Khwaja Sabz Posh district of the province cleared nearly 30 villages of Taliban.

“Approximately in all operations that we launch, 50 percent of the forces are public uprising forces. Till now everything has been good and we achieved good results. Also we had 500 local police but  200 of them have been decreased now,” Zafir said.

A number of parliament members (MPs) say that government should support the public uprising forces who are sacrificing their lives to protect their country and the people.

Public uprising forces also said they have taken up arms to stop insurgents and protect their families.

“Insurgents carry out suicide attacks and bombing everywhere and worry our people. Our region became insecure and I took up a weapon to defend my homeland and my people,” said a public uprising soldier.

“I am a student. Despite all the challenges I faced, I have come here to join my brothers and defend my country,” said another public uprising soldier.

A team from the Meshrano Jirga, that recently visited the province, said public uprising forces play a vital role in fighting the insurgents and stressed they should be supported.

“The public uprising forces defend our people and the country. Senators have an obligation to go to the ministries of interior, defense and to the presidential and Sapedar palaces and call on them to support the forces,” said Zalmai Zabuli, a senator.

Some statistics show that public uprising forces suffer a heavier casualty toll than security forces as the Taliban count them as their first enemy.