Paktika road reopens after 9-year closure

SHARANA (Pajhwok): A major highway, connecting three border districts, in southeastern Paktika province has been reopened after remaining closed for nearly a decade, the governor’s house said on Tuesday.

The mountainous highway had been closed by militants in the Goshta area, making it impossible for government officials to travel on the route.

The governor’s house in a statement said government officials, who were residents of Waza Khwa, Terwa and Wormamay districts, had been unable travel on the highway for the last nine years.

It said security forces had dismantled insurgent sanctuaries in the Goshta area as a result of an ongoing operation to clear the route. No one has got hurt in the offensive so far and two landmines were found and defused in the Ghosta area, it said.

The offensive would continue until the road was full cleared of insurgents and security checkpoints were established, the statement said.

Former provincial council member and Waza Khwa resident, Abdul Ghani Paktin, said residents had to face numerous problems due to the highway closure.

Paktika deputy police chief Nisar Ahmad Abdul Rahimzai also confirmed the highway had been reopened after a series of search operations.

“We will keep the highway open at any cost, even if a single security personnel remains standing in Paktika,” he remarked.

hs/ma

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