Govt asked to rehabilitate, preserve historic Jhawara tunnels

KHOST (Pajhwok): Residents of southeastern Khost province say the government should rehabilitate and preserve historic tunnels that the Mujahideen dug and used against former Soviet army in Jhawara area of Gurbuz district.

The Jhawara tunnels are situated on the Durand Line near North Waziristan district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The tunnels were important front of the Afghan Mujahideen’s fight against the invasion of former Soviet army.

The Afghan Mujahidin Tunnels in Jhawara area of Gurbuz district:

According to local residents, the tunnels have been dug deep in a rugged and mountainous area. The tunnels were bombed several times by Russian air forces and then also by American forces during the past decades.

A number of culturists, youth, former mujahideen and some officials of the provincial Information and Culture department visited the tunnels today.

Information and Culture director Shabir Ahmad Osmani told Pajhwok Afghan News the aim of their visit was remember the struggle, activities and hardships of former Mujahideen fighters and learn lessons. The defeat of the Red Army began from these tunnels, Osmani said.

The Afghan Mujahidin Tunnels in Jhawara area of Gurbuz district:

“Logistic supplies to the front lines Mujahideen fighters of the southern region were sent from this area, most of their meetings, planning were done here and their groups were dispatched from these tunnels,” he recalled.

He urged the government to restore every tunnel which were 60 meters lengthy and were interconnected because they had a historic value.

“We ask the government of Islamic Emirate to restore all jihadi centers and provide all life facilities in such places due to their historic importance”, Osmani added.

Haji Hafizullah Jan is one of the Afghan Mujahideen who participated in several operations against the Soviet forces in Jhawara tunnels.

The Afghan Mujahidin Tunnels in Jhawara area of Gurbuz district:

“The Russian air forces had conducted several aerial raids on these tunnels but they resisted, the Mujahideen fighters continued their planning until the Russians were defeated”, Haji Hafizullah said.

 “These tunnels were the symbol of unity for Mujaheedin fighters of the southern zone of the country, they gathered here, ate, drank, planned, shared ideas and then dispatched with unity from this place,” he added.

Mohammad Rauf Rawan, a youth who for the first time saw these tunnels, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the government must pay attention to the historic tunnels.

“If parks are built and other facilities of life are provided in this place, this area can attract many foreign visitors”, Rawan said.

Meanwhile, a number of local residents told Pajhwok Afghan News their elders made many sacrifices during the former Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the government must pay attention to the area.

aw/ma

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