Afghanistan: Taliban deploy around 1,500 new troops to Bamiyan amidst increasing resistance

The Taliban is in the midst of trying to reform Afghanistan and its government since returning to power in August, which has also brought increasing resistance from their rivaling extremist groups. The insurgent group recently deployed 1,500 of its newly recruited soldiers to Bamiyan to provide security to the province.

The Taliban has deployed 1,500 of its new recruits to provide security in Bamiyan province. The deployment of new soldiers comes as Afghanistan is facing growing resistance coming from its rivaling militant groups. 203rd Mansouri Taliban Corps 5th Brigade commander Mullah Mohammad Shirin confirmed the deployment.

“Foreign gangs are stationed in Bamiyan with the intent of disrupting security and causing us trouble,” said Shirin. The official also accused Afghanistan’s neighboring countries of intervening in Bamiyan but did not specify which countries he was accusing.

The 5th Brigade’s head of plan and operation, Gholam Mohammad Bakhtiari, predicted that resistance will continue in the region and urged the people of Bamiyan province to cooperate with the authorities so that the region’s security would not be compromised. Bakhtiari also urged the residents not to engage in any unrest that could spread throughout the province.

Despite the attempt by the Taliban to bolster security, it was not received well by Bamiyan residents. The residents claimed that Taliban fighters that were deployed in their province had been harassing them.

The Taliban also announced this week that it will create an army that will include officers and troops that served in the previous Western-backed government of Afghanistan. The group’s Ranks Clearance Commission head Latifullah Hakimi also told a news conference that the group has repaired nearly half of the 81 helicopters and planes that were deemed unusable by the US in the heels of its military withdrawal.

Hakimi revealed that the group has obtained over 300,000 light arms, 26,000 heavy weapons, and around 61,000 military vehicles during their takeover. The Afghan army dissolved during this takeover of the country, leaving their weapons behind. Many of the senior government and military officials fled Afghanistan during the evacuation efforts, but those who remained went into hiding for fear of reprisals from the group.