Takhar children’s interest in woody gun toys increases

TALOQAN (Pajhwok): Civil society activists in northern Takhar province say children have started playing with wood-made guns in the province instead of going to school.

They linked the trend of playing with wood-made guns with negative fallouts of continued war in the country, adding that in some areas of Takhar children have ignored getting education and turned to the use of wood-made guns.

AsadullahZmari, a civil society activist, said decades of war had left negative impact on children in the country.

He said children in the Mawara-i-Kockcha district of the province have stopped going to schools and had  instead engaged themselves in making woody guns and playing against each other with these toys.

He urged addressing the issue and warned if the trend was not stopped these children would get familiar with the use of guns and it would have negative consequences in the future.

Another civil society activist Abdul Sami said familiarity with guns and their use has become part of culture, adding that the country already suffered from decades of conflict, migration and economic downfall.

He stressed Afghanistan could be a prosperous country if families in the country encouraged their children to go to schools instead of playing with woody gun toys.

Military Affairs Expert Col. Mohammad said the existing situation in the country encouraged children to show greater interest with guns.

“If you look at your surroundings, you will find guns in commonplaces, academic places and cities that people are walking along with guns and this have a negative impact on children,” he said.

He said government should keep away uniformed and armed personnel from academic places, schools and universities.

Takhar Information Director AnsarullahAnsar linked the growing interest of children with guns to the negligence of previous government officials in the area of education and training.

He said the incumbent government was striving to create an environment of education and encourage children to get education instead of playing with woody guns.

Takhar, situated in the northern part of the country, had been the scene of heavy fighting during the past conflict.

nh/ma

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