BAMYAN CITY (PAN): The newly-appointed governor for central Daikundi province, Abdul Haq Shafaq, on Wednesday said Afghan security forces needed access to more facilities and advanced weapons to effectively keep the Taliban at bay.
Shafaq, who replaced Qurban Ali Uruzgani, has previously served as the governor of Faryab and Samangan provinces.
"There are many problems in Daikundi. I will try my level best to get them resolved, but is not possible to address every issue," Shafaq told Pajhwok Afghan News during an interview.
He said Daikundi faced security and health-related problems and there were some hurdles to the execution of reconstruction projects.
The new governor urged the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to continue assisting the province beyond 2014, when most of foreign combat troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan.
He warned if the UN abandoned Daikundi in the current situation, the move would leave a negative impact on completing the ongoing reconstruction programmes.
Shafaq identified focus on security improvement, good governance, reforms in government departments, fighting corruption and launching development and reconstruction projects among his top priorities.
However, he explained he could not achieve those goals in the absence of government, people and  their representatives' support.
He said the security situation in Daikundi was threatened due its borders with insurgency-plagued Helmand, Ghor and Uruzgan provinces.
He said roads in Daikundi districts of Kiti and Kajran linking it to Kandahar had been closed because of landmines planted by the Taliban.
The governor stressed the need for equipping security forces with advanced weapons and equipment, saying people's support remained crucial to bringing about improvement in Daikundi's security.
He also appealed to insurgent groups to shun insurgency and join the peace process.
Shafaq also mentioned the lack of people's access to clean drinking water and paved roads and bridges other problems that needed urgent attention.
He said there were around 356 schools in Daikundi, with only 93 of them having buildings. He said most of departments also needed new buildings.
Shafaq said he would try to provide residents with improved health services, education facilities, launching reconstruction programmes and paving the ground for freedom of the press in Daikundi.
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