Policeman claims defusing 6000 bombs

KABUL’s weapon of choice, in a period of seven years.

Sirajudding Afghanmal, a resident of Panjwai district of southern Kandahar, told reporters he had joined the national police 11 years ago and had been working with the force’ bomb disposal squad over the past seven years.

He said most of the roadside bombs he defused were planted in civilian areas. The Taliban lacked the courage to enter a face-to-face clash with Afghan security forces, thus emplacing landmines.

Another police officer, Abdul Ghafoor Afghan, last week also claimed to have defused more than 6000 improvised explosive devices or IEDs.

About 80 percent civilian and military deaths in Afghanistan are caused by IEDs, which the insurgents use to attack security forces, but such violence has often caused casualties to civilians dependable on the same routes.

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