Security responsibility for Dilaram changes hands

ZARANJ (PAN):  The security responsibility for the only remaining district of southwestern Nimroz province was on Tuesday handed over Afghan forces from their foreign counterparts as part of the second phase of the transition.

The security transition commission head, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, deputy education and interior ministers, the Ministry of Defence representatives, the governors for Nimroz and neighbouring Helmand provinces and tribal elders participated in the ceremony.

The International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) troops were based in Dilaram district only, Governor Abdul Karim Barahawi said. He said Afghan forces were ready to take over the security responsibility for the district in cooperation with local people.

He also said the province faced many problems including unemployment, lack of people’s access to public services, roads connecting districts with the capital city, Zaranj.

He said the central government had appointed officials in the province without consulting local authorities.

The provincial council head, Najibullah Nasar, on the occasion asked the central government to launch construction work on the Kamal Khan Dam.

The transition commission head, Ahmadzai, said: “Even if we have no bread to eat, we will try to equip our security forces.”

Security in Balkh, Takhar, Samangan and Kabul provinces and Jalalabad, Chaghcharan, Shiberghan, Faizabad, Ghazni City, Maidan Shahr and Qala-i-Naw is being shifted to Afghan forces as part of the second phase of the transition.

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