Security on highways and routes in most of the districts of southern Ghazni province has deteriorated, leaving people in great trouble amid possible clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents.
About five months back, the Taliban launched a coordinated attack on the capital of Ghazni and captured many districts of the province.
The Taliban closed roads of most of the districts against government officials, but civilians have also been facing hardships while commuting on the routes.
Ezatullah, a shopkeeper in Ghazni City, told Pajhwok Afghan News that people’s movement in the city had significantly decreased after the Taliban attack on the provincial capital.
“Businesses in the city have dropped to zero because routes of districts are insecure and people cannot easily come to the city, sometimes even not one buyer comes in a day,” he said.
Noor Mohammad, another resident of Ghazni city, said that the Taliban had shut the route connecting Andar district with the provincial capital and people of the troubled town used unpaved ways for their movement.
“The Taliban have planted bombs on roads of most of Ghazni districts, it has terrified people who cannot use these routes,” he said.
Saadullah, a resident of Chardiwal area of Andar district and a university student in Ghazni city, said the Taliban had closed the route to their district and he could not go home.
He said people in districts had to buy essential items against unaffordable prices. “People in districts cannot come to the city and those living in the city cannot travel to districts, shopkeepers can hardly import things and that is the reason the prices soared in such areas,” he said.
A number of other residents of Ghazni also held similar complaints.
Governor’s spokesman Mohammad Arif Noori said that the Taliban had set up their own checkpoints on some highways and they searched people and vehicles.
“People should not afraid of the Taliban, they should feel safe while traveling and join hands with the government to prevent insurgents from creating disturbance,” he said.
Noori said a massive operation would be launched soon in some districts for improving security on highways.
Few days back, Ghazni police chief Brig. Gen. Daud Tarakhel also said they would launch operations for recapturing some areas. On the other hand, the Taliban also confirmed they had closed roads of some districts but only against government workers.
