KANDAHAR CITY (SW) – Insecurity in the Maidan Wardak province on the main Kabul-Ghazni highway has caused serious problems for travelers.
In conversation with Salam Watandar, a number of passengers said clashes between the security forces and the Taliban often led to closure of the road while the presence of roadside landmines and the Taliban fighters inspecting passengers continue to cause serious concerns for them.
Hassan Reza Yousefi, a member of the Ghazni Provincial Council, told SW that more than five people have been killed on this highway last month by gunmen who called themselves as the Taliban. According to him, two senior police officials were also identified and shot on this highway by the insurgents.
Yousefi blamed the security officials of Maidan Wardak and Ghazni over their alleged failure in securing this route.
Meanwhile, Muhibullah Sharifzai, a spokesman for the governor of Maidan Wardak, also acknowledged that the Taliban do randomly inspect vehicles on this route at some points, but added that security has been improved. He added some attacks and robberies take place in the jurisdictions of Ghazni province.
But, security officials in Ghazni claim all hostage taking and other incidents of insecurity have taken place in Syedabad and Salar districts of Maidan Wardak province. He added improved coordination is underway to resolve these problems.
In recent weeks, a number of Ghazni-based civil activists have launched a campaign on social media urging President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani to help stop killing of people along the Kabul – Ghazni highway in the Maidan Wardak province.
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