Paktians want tide turned on growing insecurity

Residents of the capital city and some districts of southeastern Paktia province are complaining about growing insecurity and say the government should ensure success of the ongoing operations.
The residents say the conflict has spread in the province lately, with the clashes inching closer to Gardez City. If serious measures are not taken, the situation may worsen.
Taji Mohammad Mangal, a member of the provincial council, said the Taliban insurgents waged attacks on the security belt around Gardez and nearby security posts over the past few months, capturing some posts.
Mangal said besides Gardez, the security situation in Zurmat, Ahmadabad, Ladha wa Mangal, Ahmadkhel and Zazi Aryub districts needed attention.
“The past three months saw Paktia experiencing fierce clashes in which security forces suffered casualties, but our demand is that in order to reduce threats and the clashes, it is important to make the ongoing operations a success.”
The public representative said security posts should be established in areas where a comeback of the rebels was feared after being driven.
Similarly, civil society activist Samiullah Ahmadzai said armed robberies, kidnappings and targeted killings had increased and should be prevented by security forces through strong coordination.
He blamed the fall of several security posts into the hands of insurgents on negligence of high ranking security officials because security forces on the battlefield could not be supplied logistics and other needed equipment in-time.
Jalal Ali, a resident of Zazi Aryub district, expressed similar views and accused former security leadership of failing to turn the tide on insecurity.
He urged security forces to conduct effective operations as Paktia’s security had deteriorated compared to last year.
In response to these remarks, police chief Brig. Gen. Raz Mohammad Mandozai admitted the security situation had recently deteriorated, but said the ongoing operations had forced the rebels to flee.