Taliban destroy Panjwai ring road

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN insurgents had destroyed a newly-blacktopped ring road at three locations in the Panjwai district of southern Kandahar province, an official claimed on Wednesday.

The insurgents damaged the road a night before Eidul Fitr festival, the district chief said. Haji Fazl Mohammad told Pajhwok Afghan News the road that connects the town to the Ainak Road and leads to the Maiwand district, had recently been asphalted.

The rebels dug deep holes in the road at various locations using tractors, spades and pickaxes. They had also planted mines on the road, the district chief said, claiming one rebel was killed and two others were injured when one of the bombs exploded accidently. The rest of the bombs were found and defused by security officials later, Mohammad said.

To a question, he said the insurgents could not be detected by an ISAF security balloon fitted with high-powered cameras because the area was rife with mulberry trees.

The official said a joint meeting of government and security officials had decided to launch a search operation in the area.

Tribal elder Haji Din Mohammad said the rebels had forced some residents into digging the road. The Taliban have so far said nothing about the incident.

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