ZARANJ - People’s representatives and residents of southwestern Nimroz province complain growing insecurity is hampering implementation of reconstruction projects, blaming the government for negligence to ensure law and order in the area.
The residents, however, expressed satisfaction over security situation in some areas but militants from other provinces sometimes disrupt security situation.
The demanded the government to bolster security and implement welfare projects, especially road construction, building health clinics, schools, water dams and other construction projects.
A provincial council member Mullah Gul Ahmad Ahmadi said security situation in some parts of the province was good but Khashrod, Dilaram and Chahar Burjak districts were under severe militants’ threats.
He told Pajhwok Afghan News that Taliban have sneaked from Farah and Helmand provinces and created security problems for people here. Taliban fire rockets into the center of Khashrod district, storm security posts, kill government officials and plant roadside bombs, he informed.
Ahmadi said that the 215th Maiwand Military Corps forces stationed in Shorabak district of Helmand should also take part in ensuring security of Nimroz province.
“No development projects have been implemented in Kashrod district, only three schools are active which are supported by local elders. Militants are likely close these schools where 800 students are getting education,” he said.
The residents of Nimroz were cooperating with the government to ensure security, but the government should implement welfare projects, Ahmadi added.
Mohammad Sabir, a resident of Nimroz province, said law and order situations were good in some parts but Khashrod and Dilaram districts were unstable where uplift projects could not be initiated.
“We want government to clean our canal, construct our road and build health clinics here” he said.
He said militants took control of all areas of Khashrod district except its center and Zaranj-Dilaram highway. He added the government should clear the areas under rebels’ control and implement construction projects.
Khashrod district chief Mohammad Hasham Noorzai also confirmed growing insecurity in his district.
He said only villages around the district center were stable while around 50 villages outside the district were under militants influence.
All militants in Khashrod were forced by Afghan forces in Helmand to flee but they established their hideouts in this district, he said.
Noorzai added current number of security forces was enough for maintaining security in the district but more forces were needed to launch clearing operations.
“The militants’ supply convoys cross through Khashrod district to Herat, Farah and Ghor provinces,” he said, adding that mafia groups were also a cause of instability in the region.”
The level of drugs cultivation is high in Nimroz province. But local officials say that Nirmoz is the transit route for drug traffic from Kandahar, Helmand, Farah and Herat provinces to Iran and European countries.
Some people complain the government is negligent to implement reconstruction projects in secure areas.
Suhrab, the development council head of Chahar Burjak district, said major problem of the residents was unpaved and bumpy road. He said patients sometimes lose their lives on the road to hospital.
He added that farmers were also facing troubles transporting their products to market due to lack of a proper transportation road.
Provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Dilawar Shah Dilawar said three weeks ago militants conducted a large attack on Khashrod district but their attack was repulsed.
He said security forces were able to maintains security in the province. Dilawar said efforts were on to bring stability to insecure areas and pave the ground for implementation of reconstruction projects. (Pajhwok)