Elders ask govt to pay attention to Helmand insecurity

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Tribal elders on Wednesday asked the government to pay special attention to security and appoint able officials in southern Helmand province.

During a gathering in Lashkargah, the provincial capital, tribal elder Amir Mohammad Akhunzada spoke on behalf of other elders, describing security in Helmand as “bad,” urging people to control the situation on their own.

“Some figures are creating insecurity for their personal interests. Our traders are not willing to invest here and the war has reached Lashkargah’s outskirts,” he said, accusing foreign networks and some local officials of dividing tribes in Helmand.

“If the government doesn’t take urgent steps for security, people would take the initiative themselves,” he said.

Another tribal elder Hafizullah Khan, who saw robbers and drug mafia behind insecurity in Helmand, said government’s negligence had compelled the people to join militants.

“It is responsibility of tribal elders to ask the government to stop such a negligent behaviour,” a member of the provincial council, Bashir Ahmad Shakir, said, urging people to play role in maintaining security and supporting security forces.

Other tribal elders insisted leaders of the country should appoint able officials in Helmand to reduce security issues.

Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander in Sangin, Ghulam Jan, said the security situation in Helmand could be improved if police were given their privileges and support in-time.

The governor’s spokesman, Omar Zhwak, acknowledged security issues in the province, saying the government was trying to eliminate the problems.

“The remarks of tribal elders are their personal views and I don’t want to comment about that,” he said.

Helmand is one of the restive provinces of the country and currently Taliban fighters are in control of four districts of Helmand.

myn/ma

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