PULI KHUMRI (PAN): Admitting that insecurity is still haunting some parts of the province including Baghlan Jadid, governor of Baghlan said security and law and order had been improved during the last five years in the area under his command.    
Offering details of security parameters, Baghlan Governor Sultan Muhammad Ibadi claimed writ of the government had been established in Baghlan’s 14 districts. He said government functionaries could now easily travel to any part of the province with a single escort.
He went on to say sometimes militants appeared in Talawa Barfak, Baghlani Jadid and Burkah districts, leading to clashes between militants and security forces in Baghlani Jadid district.
However, the governor expressed reservations regarding the presence of armed groups instead of Taliban militants.
People in Talawa Barfak district conveyed their grievances regarding the presence of Taliban insurgents in their area, he added.
Muhammad Hakim, a resident of Talawa Barfak district informed regarding the presence of Taliban hideouts alongside the Bamyan province. He said since three years insurgents were attacking security forces in the area.
He said Taliban used to unleash attacks on government officials in crowded areas, adding some pro-Taliban elements had been campaign in mosques urging people to joining Taliban ranks.
The tragic development multiply worries of the residents and the security forces could not take action against anti-state elements, he added.
Because of deteriorated state of affairs, a policeman was gunned down in a bomb attack on district governor office in which the building got damaged partially. Later, findings to the investigations revealed that government had no writ in the district. The findings underlined the need that the provincial authority should rush quickly to the disturb parts of the province in an attempt to ensure security of the people.
A large number of residents from Dih Salah and Andarab districts in Baghlan complained about the atrocities of criminals, saying that they were planning to leave the area because of insecurity.
The residents said the number of criminals reached to one hundred individuals who were not associated to any group. They said that the government could control the criminals and dacoits easily.
They said the main factor gave rise to the strength of criminals was the rising trend guns smuggling and family feuds among tribes. He said the government pathetic role was behind the rise of criminals bandits in the area.
Jamshed, a resident of Dih Salah district says: “Militants move freely throughout the province without any fear from government. Most of the time those groups fight to one another for control over the area.”
He said criminals had their own chain of command who used to collect taxes, adding those criminals sometimes locked in clashes with the security forces by declaring themselves as Taliban.
Locals in Puli Hisar district complained the provincial authorities could not detain a notorious criminal known as Mujahid despite a cleanup operation. They said Mujahid was allegedly involved by robbing people and minting money from them. People of the district warned they would leave the area because of deteriorated law and order and intense fighting among various groups.
Despite of cleanup operation conducted by the security forces, the militants were still roam in the area who were creating trouble for locals.
Arbab Abbas, a resident of Zakarkhel village of Baghlani Jadid district says: “I and my ten family members have been displaced from our village and now we are residing in Mangalha village because of insecurity in my hometown.”
He went on to say due to militants’ presence in Jangalzar area, most of the people fled the area because of a looming military offensive in the locality.
He said military operation to purge the area of militants affected the economy of the locals as people neither could cultivate nor could work as daily wagers.
Brigadier General Police Asadullah Sherzad, security chief of Baghlan said Taliban fighters were hiding in jungles after they launched attack on police conveys.
He said several offensives had been conducted to purge areas of militants but Taliban retreated to neighboring provinces for shelter and then came out again after the offensive was concluded.
He said because of vast and complicated terrain, militant staged comeback but the security forces were fully aware of the threats.
The provincial security chief informed after the establishment of Afghan Local Police (ALP), security elsewhere in the province had been improved. 
Sherzad said more than 15,000 ALP were discharging their duties to ensure security in Baghlan province.
“People are not much only worried about the presence of militants but they they are concerned about the free movement of armed government officials who are roaming in tented glass vehicles.
Muhammad Naseem, a resident of Puli Khumri city said people only felt themselves secure within the city.
He said some security forces, guards of provincial council and parliament members harassed common people--- a trend that gave birth to alienations among the civilians.
Zakiah, a resident of Baghlan while expressing his deep concern about the security of women in the province, saying last year a man stabbed women to death in public who managed to escape the scene after committing the crime. She said the man was now living in London.
During the month of July, a band of criminals kidnapped two girls from a school where one was found dead while another was still missing. Such kinds of events became a routine matter and the violence against women continued to surge without any notice from the authorities.
Abdul Qadeem, assistant of Baghlan governor while expressing reservations about holding free and fair elections next year said concrete steps should be taken to bolster security.
The wrong policies of the government is a constant source of widening fulf between the government and people of the province, he said, adding people do not believe elections could change their lot. 
Some people said Taliban were losing ground that’s why they were planting roadside bombs or resorted to ambushes on security forces.