Kabul-Herat highway reopened for cargo trucks

KANDAHAR (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Saturday said Herat-Kandahar highway was reopened after addressing problems of traders and transport companies.

Traders and a number of transport companies had blocked the highway in protest to illegal extortions.

A statement from MoI received by Pajhwok Afghan News said that deputy interior minister, Maj. Gen. Khushal Saadat traveled to western Herat province for assessing situation on the highway.

The source said that Saadat met with representatives of traders and transport companies who blocked the highway in protest to illegal extortions.

Saadat assured the traders and transport companies that they would be paid special attention for their security and anyone creating problems for cargo truck drivers would be tried according to the law, the source said.

Asadullah, a truck driver on Kandahar-Herat highway said that they reopened the highway after two weeks of protest.

He said that hundreds of truck drivers had protested in reaction to illegal extortions by police and Taliban militants on the highway.

He said that officials assured them that they would be no longer face problems on the highway.

“Every police post on Kandahar-Herat highway take money from drivers, if drivers refuse to give the money police would stop them for hours, beat them and insult them,” he said.

“Police take from 2,000 Afghanis to 5,000 Afghanis from truck every truck driver on the highway, the Taliban also take from 5,000 Afghanis to 35,000 Afghanis as tax from drivers,” he said.

He said that both the Taliban and police bothered them and they were forced to stage a protest.

He said that Taliban recently stopped them in Farah Rod area while transporting fig and they paid 6,000 Afghanis to them and supplicated to the Taliban to release them.

Asadullah said that the Taliban wanted more money. He added that truck drivers were faced serious problems on the highway and they hope they would be no longer face these issues as promised by officials.

Haji Sayed Mohammad, a trader from Kandahar prvoicne said that the prices of fuel and other items were increased after the closure of the highway.

He also said that truck drivers were tired of troubles they suffer on the highway and traders were obligated to give up their businesses.

Police take money not only from importing goods, but from domestic products as well or goods only transported between Herat and Kandahar provinces, he said.

He also said that officials concerned should implement their promises and drivers should not be bothered in the future.

mds