Offensive begins to improve Kabul-Jalalabad road security

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Security forces have launched clearing operations to improve security on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway and pave ground for upcoming presidential election in eastern Laghman province, an official said on Tuesday.

The joint security forces operations codenamed ‘Moj-i-Selab’ would continue until all areas were cleared of Taliban’ presence, said Asadullah Dawlatzai, the Laghman governor’s spokesman.

He told Pajhwok Afghan News the clearing operations were launched today (Tuesday) morning in Qarghaio and Badpakht districts to improving security on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway.

He said led by the Afghan National Army (ANA), the offensive also involved personnel from public order police, national and Afghan Local Police (ALP).

Maj. Mohammad Haroon Yousufzai, spokesman for the Afghan army’s 201 Selab Military Corps, told Pajhwok that the operations were carried out after complaints from drivers and passengers about insecurity on the highway.

Besides maintaining security on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway, the operations were aimed at facilitating the upcoming presidential election, he added.

Yousafzai said Zangoir, Mahajar Township, Surkhkakan, Naranj Bagh and Khirokhel villages of Qarghaio districts were cleared of militants’ within the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Jan Mohammad, a passenger in Jalaabad City, the capital of Nangarhar province, welcomed the operations and urged the offensive’s extension to Surobi district of Kabul province as well.

A number of other passengers held similar views and urged the government to keep continue the clearing operation in the areas.

Pk/ma

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