Achin homes still in rubble, say residents

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): The residents of Achin district in eastern Nangarhar province say the government is yet to deliver on its promise of reconstructing their houses damaged in clashes between security forces and Daesh gunmen.

After protracted clashes between security forces and Islamic State or IS fighters in Achin, the government launched a major operation against the outfit driving the fighters from many areas.

As a result of the operation and clashes, local residents fled to safety, but on return they found their houses reduced to rubble.

The government forces had been able to clear areas from Shadal bazaar to Asadkhel Tangi and beyond from Daesh militants.

Now residents of the district say the war has destroyed everything they had and the government should launch reconstruction projects.

Activity at the district bazaar, Shadal Bazaar, has somehow increased, some shops have opened and people come to buy stuff.

A resident of the bazaar, Awal Gul Shinwari, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the people of Achin wanted the government to revive the damaged infrastructures.

“We have been promised many times that our homes will be reconstructed and the security ensured, but the promises remain unmet.”

A resident of Asadkhel Tangi area, Syed Qayum, said his house was bombed in the conflict and everything inside destroyed.

He said the government had promised them that their damaged homes would be repaired, but nothing was done in practical.

However, the provincial government says it has planned to carry out a number of reconstruction projects in Achin district.

Nangarhar governor Mohammad Gulab Mangal told Pajhwok Afghan News that the promise to reconstruct people homes could not be given a practical shape, pending a survey of the homes.

He said besides reconstruction of damaged homes, other several projects would also be launched in the district.

A majority of the residents said after a significant progress in the operation against Daesh few months back, the security forces have since been confined to their bunkers.

However, security officials said the operation was still ongoing as planned.

Col. Sher Aqa Faqir, Afghan army’s 201 Selab Military Corps spokesman in the east, said the operation against Daesh had been slow because they wanted to construct security posts in captured areas before advancing.

Daesh, the Khorasan branch of the Iraq and Syria-based militant group, for the very first time emerged in Achin district in eastern Afghanistan, prompting the government to launch a series of operations.

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