A number of residents of Pasaband district of western Ghorprovince claim the Taliban have planted bombs on all routes leading to the district, imposing an economic blockade on its inhabitants.
The residents say the Afghan forces have so far taken no action to clear landmines from the routes.
A number of residents of the district in telephone contacts with Pajhwok Afghan News said the Pasaband town faced economic blockade and some food could not be found in local bazaar.
They say rice, oil and other essential food items are not available in local markets and the price of one liter of petrol has jumped to 130 Afghanis.
Rozi Khan, a resident of the district, said: “Our ground routes have been blocked since the beginning of this solar year, we have been leading a difficult life, no food items are available in the local markets or they are very expensive because no one can import goods here.”
Abdul Ahad, another resident, said, “Rice, flour, oil and other important materials could be hardly found in our bazaar, because shopkeepers cannot bring anything due to landmines on roads.”
He said a liter of petrol was sold for 130 Afghanis in local market and people could not purchase it.
Ghor governor’s spokesman, Abdulhai Khatibi, agreed with people’s complaints and said the Afghan Wireless (AWCC) telecom company had also stopped working in the district due to lack of fuel.
He said the Taliban not only created problems for the government but also for people to make them oppose the government.
Abdul Basir Qaderi, Ghor provincial council member, said “Taliban have barred cargo trucks from entering this district and now our residents face with many problems.”
He asked the government to take action for transferring goods to the district and breaking the blockade.
“The economic situation in Pasaband is critical as people even do not have access to primary items,” he said.
Pasaband district shares border with southern Helmand province where intense clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban take place.
