Shiberghan security transitions to Afghan lead

SHIBERGHAN (PAN): The security responsibility for Shiberghan, the capital of northwestern Jawzjan province, was handed over to Afghan forces on Saturday, officials said.

A ceremony marking the transfer in Shiberghan was attended by Security Transition Commission Chairman Dr. Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Governor Muhammad Alam Saee and other officials.

Senior security official at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), Lt. Gen. Abdur Rehman Rehman, deputy ministers, Swedish Embassy representatives and International Security and Assistance Forces (ISAF) officials were also in attendance. 

“Transition does not mean an end end to the problems of Afghan forces,” the governor told the gathering.  Alam Saee called for strengthening and equipping Afghan forces to be able to maintain security for the city on their own.

He accused the central government of neglecting his province in the area of reconstruction, saying they had been denied justice in this regard.  “The province had electricity 20 years ago, but today locals lack that facility and have no clean drinking water.”

Dr. Ghani also criticised several ministries for their unsatisfactory work in the province, saying a lot of promises had been held out regarding development projects, but no practical work had been done.

Gold treasures, more ancient than the Egyptian Civilisation, and other antiques in Jawzjan had been showcased in several foreign countries, Ahmadzai said.

Gen. Rehman suggested the international community should continue training and equipping Afghan forces to enable them to conduct independent air and ground operations.

“We will continue to provide equipment and training to the Afghan National Army (ANA) and police,” promised Enrik Landarnolam, a representative of the Swedish Embassy.

mas/ma/mud

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