Ghazni’s Qarabagh district bazaar shut since a month

KABUL (Pajhwok): The district center and bazaar of Qarabagh district of southern Ghazni province has been shut since a month following continued clashes between Afghan forces and the Taliban.

Around a month ago, Taliban militants launched coordinated attacks on the center of Qarabagh district, forcing hundreds of families to leave their homes and also shut the district bazaar.

A local resident who wished to go unnamed said that the district center that includes thousands of shops and small businesses, was still shut.

“Many of our elders visited Taliban to let the district bazaar reopen, but Taliban denied, when people tried to reopen their shops, Taliban opened fire at them and injured nine people,” he said.

He said houses vacated by their owners in urgency due to war had been looted and turned into military posts.

“People are at great trouble as the district bazaar is closed, locals wonder from where to purchase their essential items including food,” he said.

Mohibullah, another resident of the district, also said that the district center remained closed since a month.

“Taliban closed the district bazaar and told people to vacate their homes, because they will fight government forces,” he said.

“I personally have a shop in the bazaar of Qarabagh district, now I have nothing in my house, I have to travel to Ghazni city even if I need a kilogram of sugar which is impossible for us because the whole route is full of dangers and there are clashes,” another resident of the district, Noor Rahman said.

A number of other locals held similar complaints and asked the government to take urgent steps for resolving their problems.

Wahidullah Jummazada, Ghazni governor’s spokesman, said that Qarabagh district bazaar was shut due to Taliban attacks.

He said that Afghan forces had launched an operation for reopening the bazaar but they were moving with caution to prevent civilian casualties.

“Reinforcements have also reached the district, Taliban suffered casualties, but the district bazaar is still shut, efforts are on to reopen it,” he added.

The Taliban did not respond to Pajhwok’s contact about the group’s comment on the matter.

Qarabagh district center is located on Kabul-Kandahar highway and it recently witnessed intense confrontations between the Taliban and Afghan forces.

Mds/ma

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