Khost security has improved: police chief

KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): The security situation has improved in southeastern Khost province, where 2014 remained comparatively peaceful year, the provincial police chief said on Friday.

Brig. Gen. Faizullah Ghairat told reporters in Khost City, the provincial capital, suicide and coordinated attacks were carried out in Kabul and other major cities and provinces last year, but Khost did not see such considerable violence.

He linked the decline in violence to improved capacity of police, providing them with essential equipment and training and people’s increasing cooperation with them.

Ghairat acknowledged some terrorist attacks occurred in Khost in 2014, but gave no details about casualties among security personnel and insurgents.

He said police had tightened security measures in border districts to prevent militants from sneaking into other parts for staging attacks.

To a question about the creation and deployment of Afghan Local Police (ALP) in Khost, the police chief said they saw no need for the force in the province.

He said serious steps had been taken to improve the capacity of national police, placing great emphasize on their close liaison with people and friendly behavior.

A policeman, Bakhti Jan, told Pajhwok Afghan News the force was well-trained and equipped, but still they needed advanced weapons.

He said the Ministry of Interior should do more to further equip the police and provide them with in-time logistic supplies, necessary trainings and other facilities.

A resident of Musakhel district, Gul Mat Khan, said a positive change had been observed in police behavior towards people, but still much work needed to be done in this regard.

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