Ghani Says Afghan '02 Unit' Of Special Forces To Reform In Case Of His Victory In Election

Ghani Says Afghan '02 Unit' of Special Forces to Reform in Case of His Victory in Election

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Friday that the 02 unit branch of special forces working under the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) intelligence agency and backed by the United States, will undergo major changes after the presidential election later this month

KABUL (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 20th September, 2019) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on Friday that the 02 unit branch of special forces working under the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) intelligence agency and backed by the United States, will undergo major changes after the presidential election later this month.

The special force unit has recently killed four young brothers in a house during an operation that caused a severe public backlash, Ghani said during his election campaign meeting in Nangarhar Province in the east of the country.

In response to the operation, the president fired the NDS chief Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai.

"I came to the funeral of the youths who were killed in the special force operation, not to the campaign, but I stopped this unit's [02 branch] operation and after the election, there will be radical changes," Ghani said.

He also thanked the meeting's participants for defeating the Islamic State terrorist group (IS, ISIS, banned in Russia) in Nangarhar province.

"This is the province [Nangarhar] that defeated ISIS in Shinwari [ethnic Pashtun tribe in Afghanistan, Pakistan] and other districts. I would like to thank you once again for giving me the key to Arg [presidential palace in Kabul]," the leader said, adding that if he won the election, those who are caught in the abuse of power and corruption would be put in jail.

According to Ghani, this time he would establish an independent government, referring to the Stability and Coordination Team of Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, who is believed to be the main challenger of the incumbent president in the race.

The twice-delayed Afghan election is scheduled for September 28. The Taliban movement, which has been fighting the government for years, has threatened to disrupt the process.