Entire Afghan Police Station Defects to Taliban

An entire Afghan police station defected to the Taliban today, with as many as 19 officers joining insurgent fighters in sacking and burning their own station, the New York Times reports. The lone remaining cop of the station southwest of Kabul—the chief—said that the turncoats took their guns, trucks, uniforms, and food with them.

“This was not an attack but a plot,” says Mohammed Yasin. “The Taliban and the police made a deal.” A Taliban propagandist agreed, saying: “We never force people to join us. The police joined us voluntarily and are happy to work with us, and to start the holy war shoulder-to-shoulder with their Taliban brothers.” The Times notes that defecting from one side to another is fairly common in Afghanistan, usually to whichever is perceived to be winning at the moment.