Pak Taliban introduces 'moral policing' to impose own version of Islam in Afghanistan

Islamabad, Apr 2(ANI): The Tehrik-e- Taliban has introduced "moral policing" in parts of northeastern Afghanistan to impose their own puritanical version of Islam, Afghan police has claimed.

"Turbaned and bearded Pakistani Taliban fighters, clad in black clothes, punish local people for shaving or trimming beards, using mobile phones and even eating Naswar," The Express Tribune quoted provincial police chief Ghulamullah Nuristani, as saying.

The TTP have introduced "moral policing" on the pattern of the Taliban-era 'Department for the Preservation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' in Kamdesh district of Nuristan.

Their armed vigilantes roam in the streets to deter what they consider to be un-Islamic activities.

Nuristani said these vigilantes are led by Maulana Fazlullah, the infamous cleric who had fled from the Swat district following a military operation in 2008.

Afghan officials also claimed TTP militants are also 'harassing native Afghans' in Barg-e-Metal district and forcing them to vacate their homes for Pakistani families.

A TTP spokesperson, Sirajuddin, rejected the claim, while the Taliban's shadowy governor for Nuristan, Sheikh Dost Muhammad, described Nuristani's claim as "part of propaganda to undermine the Taliban's growing popularity in the region".

"Only Afghan Taliban operate in the areas under our control," Dost Muhammad said. (ANI)