Former national security adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta suggested that to prevent the fall of Herat city to the Taliban, there is a need to equip and supply the public uprising forces led by former mujahedeen leader Mohammad Ismail Khan.

He criticized the government’s “wrong” policies toward ceasefire agreements, which, he cautioned, could strengthen the Taliban and increase violence in the country. The plan, according to Spanta, called for announcing a ceasefire in certain parts of the country.

“If the plan is to ensure ceasefire for instance in great Kandahar or great Paktia, in this case, the national unity and morale will be affected and all will find an opportunity to attack Herat,” Spanta said.

He made the remarks at a session hosted by the Afghan Institute for Strategic Studies focused on the situation in Herat.

“The situation will definitely worsen if this inattention continues and we do not support the resistance force,” said Saleh Mohammad Saljoqi, a former MP from Herat.

“A wild force comes that is not accountable,” said Mohammad Nasir Foshanji, a Herat resident, speaking of the Taliban.

The fighting in Herat has decreased over the last two days but is close to the central parts of the city.