GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan- Insurgents burned a mosque Oct. 21 while engaging Afghan Local Police at a checkpoint in Azad village, Gelan district, Ghazni province.
The insurgents attacked the ALP checkpoint using rocket propelled grenades. During the attack the insurgents’ RPG fire set the mosque ablaze.
“The mosque was burned by the Taliban and this is unacceptable in Islam. They have shown us that they are enemies of Islam. The mosque is a place of sanctuary for all Muslims and this action has shown us that they are at odds with God and Islam,” said Mahbuballah Sabawoon, Gelan district governor.
The ALP drove off the insurgents and the village locals extinguished the flames.
The ALP program is a culturally acceptable and effective line of effort for the Ministry of Interior. It empowers village elders to provide a local security force capable of defending the local population from fear and intimidation. The guardians have proved to be resilient and capable, and have largely been able to defend against direct insurgent attacks.
Afghan special forces and local police conducted a joint patrol through the village afterward and confirmed that the interior of the mosque had been burnt and the roof had collapsed.
There were no casualties during the attack.
Who knew – even the crazy Taliban can have a bad public relations day. They unintentionally trashed the local center of medieval ignorance & intolerance.