Civilian lives, properties at risk as war escalates in Balkh

MAZAR-I-SHARIF (Pajhwok): Residents of northern Balkh province say civilians suffered huge casualties and financial losses with thousands others fleeing their homes after the ongoing war intensified lately in a number of districts.

The Balkh people say the war also destroyed portions of highways, schools and healthcare centers.

However, provincial security officials say their operations are underway in several districts of the province for improving the security situation there.

Haji Taaj Mohammad, a resident of Chamtal district of Balkh, told Pajhwok Afghan News that clashes between the Taliban and Afghan forces happen almost on a daily basis, particularly at night times.

Many roads in the district have been planted with bombs that also targeted and killed a large number of civilians, he added.

“Clashes between Taliban and Afghan forces happen every night in our area, closure of roads with bombs and overnight shelling that hit civilian houses have tired the people,” he said.

Ordinary people cannot even work in their farms due to intense fights, he said, adding that dozens of families have been displaced from Chamtal alone due to continued violence in the last two months.

Abdul Hamid, a resident of Charbulak district, told Pajhwok that health services were at standstill due to ongoing war.

He said clashes happen on a daily basis on Balkh-Jawzjan highway which passed through parts of the district.

“Taliban and Afghan forces are careless about civilian lives and their properties”, he added.

“Two days ago, a school that consumed hundreds of thousands of afghanis was destroyed in the war, doctors of the local clinic had also moved from the area to Mazar-i-Sharif city, now people have no access to health services,” he said.

Ghulam Rassoul Malakzai, a social activist in Balkh, said that nine of total 14 districts were currently presented the scene of clashes between Taliban and Afghan forces.

Afghan forces usually after an operation leave the cleared areas and the Taliban again capture them, he said.

Malakzai said that the local administration was faced with challenges and civilian lives and properties were also under serious threat.

He said the government should resolve people’s problems and listen to their complaints.

Balkh police chief, Col. Sayed Merajuddin Sadat, said that they have increased their activities for improving security situation in the province.

He said that operations were underway in Shulgara, Chamtal, Balkh and Charbulak districts.

Mazar-i-Sharif-Shiberghan highway would be soon secured with the deployment of fresh 200 security personnel on the route, he said.

He asked local people to support Afghan security forces in controlling the situation.

Mds/ma