Taliban torch road construction vehicles in Logar

PUL-I-ALAM ((Pajhwok): Taliban militants torched four vehicles of a private road construction company in Mohammad Agha district of central Logar province, the district chief said on Tuesday.

Mohammad Rahim Amin told Pajhwok Afghan News the vehicles belonging to Aryoub Zazai Road Construction Company were set afire late on Monday night.

The district chief the Taliban not only torched the vehicles but also threatened the company workers to leave the work.

The company has been asphalting the road from Pul-i-Kandahar to Dahno area. The road connected tens of the villages along the Kabul-Logar highway, but the Taliban were creating hurdles, Amin said.

He said the 7.8-kilometer road was being reconstructed in response to local people’s demand. The district chief said efforts through tribal elders were underway to pave the way for resuming work on the road.

Bashir Ahmad, an inhabitant of the locality, said: “The Taliban came to our village late on Sunday night and set fire to four vehicles including a damper and tanker.”

Aryoub Zazai RCC’s officials refused to provide details about the incident.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban’s spokesman, rejected the fighters had torched the four vehicles. He said the Taliban did not create problems for welfare projects.

He said the private company should take license from the Taliban’s procurement commission before launching any project.

The road’s reconstruction launched around 10 days ago and would take one year to complete.

sa/ma