Taliban plant landmines on 1km road in Kandahar

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): The Taliban overnight dug nearly one kilometre portion of a road and planted landmines on it in Andaran locality of Shah Walikot district of southern Kandahar province, an official said on Monday.

The Kandahar-Uruzgan highway, which has been again blocked recently, also passes through the area and security forces are engaged in an operation to reopen the route.

The Kandahar governor’s spokesman, Samim Khpalwak, told Pajhwok Afghan News that insurgents taking advantage of darkness at night ploughed the road using a tractor and then emplaced landmines on it on Sunday night.

He said security forces had launched a probe into the incident and the issue had been discussed with local inhabitants to identify those involved in digging of the road.

There has been so far no word from insurgents about planting landmines on the road.

A resident of Shah Walikot district, Haji Akhtar, said it was very upsetting that the rebels had destroyed a public property in their district.

He said local residents used the road for transferring their fruits and patients to the city and the blockade had losses to people.

He asked the insurgents to not damage welfare facilities during their operations and show mercy on people’s situation.

sns/ma