Militia loyal to Afghanistan's First Vice Prez General Dostum abuse villagers: HRW

Kabul, Aug.1 (ANI): The militia forces loyal to the First Vice President of Afghanistan, General Abdul Rashid Dostum, have allegedly terrorised and abused the local residents in the northern Faryab province. The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Afghanistan Government to prosecute militia members responsible for killings and other abuses against civilians in this province, reports the Khaama Press. "The killings in Faryab are the latest in a long record of atrocities by Dostum's militia forces," said Patricia Gossman, senior Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch. Gossman further added "The fact that these forces, and Vice-President Dostum himself, have never been held accountable has undermined security in northern Afghanistan." On June 26, Afghan army and Junbish forces conducted a military operation against Taliban forces in Faryab province, in which the militia forces killed at least 13 civilians and wounded 32 others, said HRW. Dostum was elected vice-president in September 2014. In late 2015 he announced that he was reactivating the Junbish militia in response to Taliban military gains in Faryab and Sar-e Pul provinces, and has since overseen military operations in these provinces. The New York-based rights organization added it has documented killings and other abuses by Junbish militia against ethnic Pashtuns. (ANI)