The Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Monday said that security forces are in Behsud district, Maidan Wardak province, and that efforts are underway to arrest Alipoor and his men who are considered responsible for downing an army helicopter in the district.
Defense Ministry spokesman Rohullah Ahmadzai said on Monday that the Afghan army seized weapons from a cache during an operation in Behsud.
The helicopter incident happened in Behsud district last week. According to the Defense Ministry, there is adequate evidence to show that the military helicopter was downed by armed men who serve a local militia commander, Alipoor, who is also known as Commander Shamshir.
The ministry said the helicopter was in Behsud to transfer members of the police special forces to Kabul who had been killed and wounded in the fighting. The helicopter was targeted shortly after it took off from a base in Behsud after midnight on Thursday.
Alipoor has admitted that his men were responsible for the attack. The Defense Ministry has pledged to take revenge against Alipoor's militia over the incident.
“Our final goal and the presence of our forces in Maidan Wardak is to send the perpetrators of the incident to justice and to take revenge for our martyrs,” said Ahmadzai, the Defense Ministry spokesman.
Some lawmakers said there are plans to conduct a large-scale operation against Alipoor in the district, and they expressed their concern about possible harm to civilians if the plan is implemented.
“Different areas have been bombarded. His (Alipoor’s) outposts have been destroyed, his residence has been destroyed. Some have been martyred,” said Hamida Akbari, an MP.
Some politicians blamed the government for “unjust” actions in the situation and said the government's weakness has caused some individuals to make armed attempts against it.
“Such disobedience began in Kabul, then Mazar and some days ago in Herat. They are weakening the pillars of government,” former mujahedeen leader Mohammad Ismail Khan said at a gathering in Herat on Monday.
Following the incident, National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib linked the removal of the last interior minister with the Behsud incident but did not provide further details.
“I want to assure you that the acts committed by Alipoor and his supporters will be punished under the law,” acting Interior Minister Hayatullah Hayat said.
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