Villagers from the tiny Kanam Village in Afghanistan’s Kunduz Province marched on the provincial capital today, protesting an overnight attack by the US-backed Arbaki Militia, which killed 16 civilians.
The Arbakis attacked the village overnight, firing randomly and telling locals that they were taking revenge for a Taliban attack near the village which led to the assassination of one of their members. Officials say the death toll is likely to rise further, as many others were gravely wounded.
The provincial police initially sought to shrug off the incident, claiming only that it was carried out by “irresponsible armed men.” Later the provincial governor admitted it was the Arbaki militia.
The Arbakis got their start as private tribal militias/gangs relying on intimidation to extort money from locals. They were quickly embraced by the US, which renamed them the Afghan Local Police and started funneling money and weapons to the groups in return for promises to support the government and fight the Taliban. Though the groups have clashed regularly with the Taliban, their increased power has also made them a major problem for civilians, as they remain virtually above the law.
This is the general attitude of the rich ruling class in Afghanistan, this is why Russia went bankrupt with all its road building and good it tried to do for the Afghan people.
"…quickly embraced by the US…renamed them the Afghan Local Police…funneling money and weapons…in return for promises to support the government and fight the Taliban…"
Another example of misguided and poorly executed designs by the mighty US demigods who think our way of government – which doesn't even work well for ourselves – works for all (and who are willing to take the knee in exchange for American tax dollars and an ever-present military force – for our mutual protection, of course.
They're learning well from their masters.