LASHKARGAH (SW): Traffic on Kandahar-Helmand highway remains suspended as fighting rages on between the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and the Taliban.
The Security forces are not allowing commuters to travel on this route as the Taliban have littered the highway with landmines. Stranded passengers have expressed concerns over the state of affairs on this key road link in the south of the country. Mohammad Ehsan and Samiullah, two of the stranded passengers, told Salam Watandar that the number of ANSF men deployed on this highway is too thin to protect it from the militants.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Kareem Attal, chairman of the Helmand provincial council, said in this regard that the road link between Helmand and Kandahar has been insecure for quite some time now. He stressed that lack of coordination between the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police (ANP) has aggravated the situation here. Attal called for handing over the security responsibility of this highway to one force.
The provincial government, however, believes that security of this highway has deteriorated in the past few days only. Umar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor, told Salam Watandar that clean-up operation has begun that would also see establishment of new check points, and clearance of the highway for traffic. Abdul Sattar Khan, a commander of the highway police, informed that at least ANP men have died, four got wounded and four more have been taken away by the Taliban following a blast on the highway.
The highway remained closed for traffic for some 45 days two months ago. Some of 20 ANP died clearing this highway for traffic back then. Around 600 ANA men are deployed on this 47 kilometer long highway between Kandahar and Helmand.
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