FARAH CITY (PAN): Residents of Farah province complained of growing insecurity, demanding the government to adopt measures to tighten security and law and order.
However, officials of Farah said security had been improved in the province as compared to the past.
Hamidullah Rehman, secretary of teachers association and a civil society activist told Pajhwok Afghan News security was going deteriorated by each passing day with people did not feel themselves secured even in the capital city.
During the current year, armed militants staged several high-profile attacks on the security forces in the province targeting the judiciary and prosecutors’ offices, which left several civilians dead and injured.
Officials of security forces said four police officials, six Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel, 34 civilians, some judges and nine attackers were killed and over 100 injured including civilians, officers, teachers and students in those attacks.
Rehmani alleged that attack took place because the security forces failed to take measures to flush out anti-state elements before the attacks.
“The tragedy is that Farah province shares borders with Iran and Pakistan and both the countries tend to destabilize the province. If the concerned officials do not focus to bolster the strength of security forces then the current wave of insecurity can spread to other parts of the country,” he warned.
Abdul Basir Khairkhwa, head of provincial council of Farah also said that the concerned security institutions did not pay attention to improve law and order of the province. “Most of the districts of the province are under the grip of insecurity. Security is needed to be tightened on the border areas with special reference of the vital Farah- Herat highway,” he added.
He said Farah-Herat highway had a role like a jugular vein for the province, and measures should be explored to make the highway secure and safe.
Khairkhwa said currently people with special reference officials could not travel on the Farah-Herat highway because of insecurity.
Muhammad Kazim, a resident of Pashtkoh district said during the last couple of months his district was experiencing unprecedented insecurity. In connivance with local officials, militants were carrying out their anti-state activities and killing of people.
“Most of the Taliban come from Iran side but security officials intentionally ignore their movement,” he added.
Shehla Abu Bakr, member of provincial council said that Nespak, a Pakistani Construction Company was about to complete the designing of Bakhsh Abad Dam in Balabluk district, adding that the construction of the dam would help resolve people’s problems. She said when the workers were on a visit to the dam site, they left the area after noticing movement of Taliban militants.
She said if the security forces did not take steps to tighten the security then construction work on the dam could not be initiated.
Sayed Ahmad, a civil society activist said: “Iran does not want construction of Bakhsh Abad Dam because currently, the water of Farah Rod flowing toward Iran. The construction of the dam will lead to water shortages in Iran’s Zabul and Zahidan localities,” she added.
Farah new Governor Muhammad Umar Sherzad assured that bolstering of security and construction of Bakhsh Abad Dam were among his top priorities.
“The Bakhsh Abad Dam will be constructed at every cost,” he vowed.
As presidential and provincial council elections would take place on 5th April 2014, Farah provincial governor said, adding security was good in a number of districts but Bakwa and a number of other districts were experiencing insecurity. He said measures would be taken to pave way for transparent elections by establishing local police and increasing the number of security forces.
 
Colonel Deljan Khakrizi, head of national security department said security had been improved in the province with the militants did not have the ability to face the security forces.
 
“Anardara, Lash Joyeen, ShibKoh, Parchamanand PushtKoh are secure districts, security has been improved in Pusht road, Khak-i-Safid, Balablok and Gulistan districts with the deployment of local police and the force will be deployed very soon in the only insecure Bakwa district as well,” he added.
 
According to Khakrizi, local police were trained from the local communities, which had strong local support therefore opponents did not have the ability to fight them.
 
Haji Amir Jan, an elder and influential from Gulistan district said following locals demands, local police had been deployed, adding, however, some parts of the districts were under Taliban’s control where militants were beheading civilians for cooperating with the government, but with the deployment of local police, Taliban left the localities.
 
“Local police force is more effective than national police and national army,” he said, adding currently there were 100 local policemen. Strength of local police will be increased to maintain security in rest of the districts.
 
Head of national security department said Iran and Pakistan were trying to deteriorate security but the militants did not have the ability to confront the country’s security forces.
 
During the ongoing year, security forces defused as many as 87 anti vehicle mines, but 75 people were killed and 104 others injured in mines explosions.
 
As many as 61 mine planters were killed with their own mines and 34 others sustained injuries, Khakrizi said, adding ISAF forces left the province, resulting in improvement of security in the area under his control.