10-km road being built in Taliban-controlled area

GARDEZ (Pajhwok): In a rare development, Taliban insurgents will oversee construction work on a 10-kilomter road being built in Zurmat district of southeastern Paktia province.

The 347 million afghanis project, which was inaugurated on Saturday, is being executed with funds from the Ministry of Transport in cooperation with the World Bank, local officials said.

An official of the project, Eng. Shakeel, told Pajhwok Afghan News the road would be constructed in a Taliban-controlled Kolal area of Zurmat district.

He said the road’s construction process would be completed in 18 months under Taliban’s oversight.

Tribal elder Malak Guldad said the road was being constructed in a Taliban-controlled area and the rebels would monitor its construction process.

Another tribal elder Mualvi Saifullah said the Taliban should cooperate with the government in execution of public welfare projects

A local Taliban commander, who did not want to be named, confirmed the road’s construction in their area and said they would monitor the construction work. He did not want to talk further.

Paktia public works director Mohammad Rahim said the road construction company was linked to the Taliban and it had started preliminary works on the project.

He said the road in Kolal area was part of the 27-km Gardez-Zurmat road and it would be completed in 18 months.

The road connects Paktia with Paktika and Ghazni provinces.

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