Officials guilty of negligence in Helmand to face legal action

LASHKARGAH (SW): A grand operation to reclaim the areas overrun by the Taliban militants in southern Helmand province is on the cards that would also see security officials found guilty of negligence face military courts.

A number of villages in the province’s Naad-e-Ali, Garmsir and Nawa districts have fallen to the rebels without any significant resistance from the security forces. Mohammad Hakeem Angaar, Commander of the Afghan National Police (ANP)’s 505-Corps told journalists on Tuesday that the highway connecting Kandahar and Helmand has been opened for traffic after 11 days of closure due to insecurity.

Despite the announcement from the officials about the opening of the highway, the locals are weary to travel on it. A number of transporters told Salam Watandar that the government forces do not allow them to travel on the un-paved roads while it is too risky to move on the main highway as the Taliban keep shooting indiscriminately on vehicles.

At least eight civilians have lost lives due to the latest spate of fighting at the Kandahar-Helmand highway. Umar Zwak, spokesman for the provincial governor in Helmand noted that two more civilians lost their lives due to two rockets fired by the Taliban in the Lashkargah. The militants have not commented on it so far.

Meanwhile, the ANP commander noted that those security officials found guilty of negligence and treason would be held accountable. “Those found guilty would definitely be punished”, he stressed.

Angaar went on to say that the Taliban are wagging terror under the guidance of Pakistan Army personnel. He claimed that the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have killed at least three Pakistani generals in latest fighting.  

ENDS