Militants burn mobile phone towers

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): Militants set three mobile phone towers on fire in the Dushi district of northern Baghlan province, an official said on Sunday.

The attackers subjected the security guards to severe torture before torching the Afghan Wireless Communications Company (AWCC) and Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) towers, the district chief told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Shamsuddin Sarhadi said around 2,000 families in Murcha Kotal, Piaz Qul and Larkhab villages benefitting from communication services had been affected.

The official believed the arson attack was the result of the two companies’ refusal to meet Taliban demand for money. Soon after the incident, security forces rushed to the scene. Technical staff had started work to repair the towers, the district chief said.

However, Taliban have not yet commented on the assault, but the insurgent group has claimed credit for such incidents in the past.

nh/rm/mud