Provincial Council Elections

KUNDUZ CITY (Pajhwok): The Kunduz provincial council on Thursday said the Taliban had equipped themselves with weapons and ammunitions after overrunning the provincial capital, posing a serious security threat to the residents.
But security officials insist Taliban have been defeated comprehensively. The city was overrun by the insurgents on September 28, but three days later, it was retaken by security forces. It took government troops around two weeks to clear the city of insurgents.

Kunduz residents: Taliban threat has grown stronger

MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Taliban insurgents on Monday held captive the police chief for Ghormach in northern Faryab province along with some of his men, a local official said.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source told Pajhwok Afghan News Lt. Col. Abdul Majid Gleem Bafi, the Ghormach district police chief, was held captive on Monday afternoon. With his hands tied, the Taliban took him towards the district in a vehicle, the source added.

FIROZKOH (Pajhwok): Residents of Pasaband district of western Ghor province have complained they are in dire financial straits due to a road blockade by Taliban militants, asking the government to reopen the route and put to an end their plight.
The 170 kilometers road that connects Pasaband district with Firozkoh, the provincial capital, has been blocked by Taliban militants over the past one month.

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): The newly-appointed police chief for southern Ghazni province on Wednesday asked the militants to shun the insurgency or be ready for being targeted.
Brig. Gen. Aminullah Amarkhel issued the warning during his introduction ceremony in Ghazni City, the provincial capital, this morning.
“If the Taliban continue shedding the bloods of innocent people in Ghazni, we would eliminate all of them,” he said, urging the people to support their security forces to improve the situation.

PUL-I-KHUMRI (Pajhwok): The new governor for northern Baghlan province assumed office on Tuesday when provincial council members criticised the government for failing to consult them on the appointment.
Abdul Sattar Barez, before embarking on his new assignment, worked as Faryab’s deputy governor for more than one decade. He replacesSultan Mohammad Ibadi as Baghlan governor.

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): The provincial council (PC) says it has tightened oversight on activities of the provincial government entities in southern Kandahar province for the sake of reforms and better services delivery to people.
A member of the council, Haji Nimatullah Sherdeli, told Pajhwok Afghan News they had encouraged provincial departments to work more because the people of Kandahar faced problems in many spheres of life.

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): The Taliban have blocked the Kabul-Kandahar highway in Asfandi and Shahbaz areas on the outskirts of Ghazni City, residents said on Monday.
Provincial council member, Hassan Rezaee told Pajhwok Afghan News the militants closed the highway in Asfandi area at 6am. Security forces have not yet reached the neighbourhood to reopen the road.
The rebels had warned inhabitants of Qarabagh district not to come out of their homes, the public representative said.

Taliban block Kabul-Kandahar highway near Ghazni City

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): The governor of southern Helmand province on Saturday claimed some people in the Garamser district had grabbed government land due to which the security situation and other related problems were on the rise.
“Let’s find legitimate solution for the problem of land grabbing, because it has become a sources of several other issues in the district,” Governor Mirza Khan Rahimi said while addressing a gathering.