Mujahidin Victory Day military parade cancelled

KABUL): The defence ministry on Wednesday announced cancellation of the military parade during the 19^th anniversary of Mujahidin’s victory against the Soviet Union.

The parade had been cancelled for security reasons and ward off a possible threat to civilians and prevent traffic jams, the media office at the ministry told Pajhwok Afghan News.

A month ago, the ministry announced that contrary to previous years, the 2011 Mujahidin Victory Day would be celebrated more enthusiastically. It said elaborate preparations had been made.

An official at 10th district police headquarters said they had undergone training for the parade. The Ghazni Stadium, the venue of such parades in the past, is full of military equipment and vehicles.

The road, bridge and shops near the stadium are open as usual and preparations for celebration are nowhere in sight.

Ghulam Haidar, a resident of the Murad Khani area, said: “If the celebration involves any threat to civilian lives, we should better scrap it.”

Two years ago, gunmen fired at a Mujahidin Victory Day function at the venue, killing two people, including parliamentarian Fazal Rahman Samkani, and injuring nine others.

am/mud