The security status of Farah province in the country’s west has changed from an insecure to a fully war-hit province, a report by TOLOnews reveals.
Except for Khaki Safed, Gulistan and Bakwa districts - which are main strongholds of the Taliban - seven other administrative areas, including the central city of the province, are insecure and war-hit.
Officials in Farah admitted they are more concerned about maintaining government offices in every district of the province than ending Taliban’s dominance in many parts of the province.
“The war is not a war of weapons and gunpowder, it is an intelligence war, a cultural war. Sometimes you will see that the game is bigger than this. It means that the war has become regional, beyond the country’s borders. It means that the origins of the conflict have roots outside the country,” Farah governor Mohammad Asif Nang said.
Security forces in Farah are faced with lack of equipment and weapons. A big part of the forces guard projects run by a Qatari company. The Arab Sheikhs go hunting in the insecure district of Jawin, the report says.
It reveals that Arab Sheikhs from Qatar visit Farah once in a year and spend one month in the province where they are protected under tight security by Afghan forces.
The Arab Sheikhs operate in areas bordering Iran where they hunt and distribute food to villages. The Arabs erect their tents in Chakarta region in Jawin district which shares border with Iran every year between February and March.
TOLOnews’ findings reveal that in this period, 150 police force members ensure the Qatari Sheikh’s safety. Sources say that $500 USD is given to the police force members as a so-called gift at the end of the mission.
“I am not aware of the reports, we will certainly investigate the issue. We sent a delegation to Farah in winter aimed at further strengthening our forces there,” spokesman for Interior Ministry Sediq Sediqqi said.
Besides police, an army unit has been deployed in southeastern part of Farah city to ensure the security for an agricultural farm and a zoo that belongs to Qatari Arabs. This farm has been built on 1.6 hectare of land in an area between a big base of army and the base of Crisis Response Unit (CRU). Date trees and rare animals and birds are kept there.
The entire military base near Farah-Bakwa road is occupied by maintaining the security of the highway and army members have not interfered.
“It is only for ensuring the safety of the zoo. If something happens, they go to the unit and take action against it. Army forces have not come out of their base so far. They are at the top of the mountain. They are not taking any action even when fired on by the Taliban,” Mohammad Husain, a commander of the CRU told TOLOnews.
The Ministry of Defense is also unaware of the matter, as is the Ministry of Interior.
“We should ask about the accuracy of the report. We should obtain information and talk to army Corp commander. The information has to be exact, then we will inform you,” the Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said.
The Qatari plans are implemented by an agricultural company, Al-Gharafa Foundation, the report says.
The company has reportedly committed to invest at least 30 to 40 million USD in agriculture and livestock in Farah. Overall, it has vowed to spend at least $100 million USD on different projects in the province.
Construction of 800 meters of runway for Farah Airport which will cost $5 million USD. A terminal for the airport which will cost $905,000 USD.
Reconstruction of a big mosque in Farah city which will cost $835,000 USD. The construction of two schools in Farah city worth $514,000 USD and two health centers with the cost of $489,000 USD, are some of the projects.
“In past two years, we have not seen activity by other institutions except Al-Gharafa Foundation,” Jamila Amini, head of Farah Provincial Council said.
Meanwhile, the Qatari projects have led to mixed reactions by Farah residents and officials.
“Arabs have their own political issues with Iran. They implement projects in remote areas like Chakarta which shares a border with Iran. I cannot accept this as assistance. They [Arabs] distribute one bag of rice and flower to the people. This is not help,” said Mohamamd Rasul Barikzai, work manager at Labor and Social Affairs Directorate in Farah.
TOLOnews tried to get comment from Al-Gharafa Foundation’s officials about but was told they have gone to Qatar.
TOLOnews also wanted to talk to the head of the company but the efforts were not successful.
Earlier, officials of the company rejected political bids for their projects. Farah governor Mohammad Asif Nang has said the Qatar Sheikhs investment in Farah is effective for preventing the smuggling of animals to Iran and is crucial for promoting agriculture in the province.
In response to concerns by Iranians about infiltration of Arabs into Afghanistan’s bordering areas, he said Iran thinks about regional trade and its benefit in Afghanistan more than any other issue.
“Iran needs money. Farah is a short way to Iran because the trade between Afghanistan and Iran as well as its trade with Central Asian countries has not started yet,” Nang said.
In response to questions about the issue, Iran’s Embassy in Kabul said Tehran supports investments which result in stability and development in the region.
“Investment of any country, including any country in the area of the Persian Gulf or Arabic countries, in Afghanistan is a matter for the Afghan government.
It is the Afghan government that decides to cooperate or enter and raise matter with any other country,” the embassy told TOLOnews in a telephonic conversation.
TOLOnews’ findings indicate that hunters of Qatar are not attacked on their way to hunting points or their residences when they stay in insecure parts of the province.