Laghman (PAN): Officials said security in Laghman province is improved 80 % as compared to the past with all the closed roads leading to districts have now been opened for traffic.
Brig. Gen. Fazal Ahmad Sherzad, police chief of the province told Pajhwok Afghan News all the roads of the Laghman districts are opened. Earlier, the only Mehtar Lam road leading to the Qarghai district was opened but rests were closed.
He said greater coordination among local institutions and intelligence departs helped maintain security in the volatile province.
He said security witnessed sharp improvement during the last seven months because of efficiency demonstrated by the local police.
“We inflicted heavy losses on militants during the last seven months. At least 80 Taliban were killed and over 100 received injuries,” he added. He said local police have the capability to restore law and order in a number of Laghman districts.
He said militants had used to ambush security forces but against the backdrop of quick improvement in security, now the forces are on defensive and use to ambush the militants. As many as 850 local police officials are deployed in Laghman, which play a highly significant role in maintaining security. “Law and order is improved following cooperation extended by the locals,” he added. On robberies and theft cases, he said criminal activities have now been diminished to great extent.
Security is improved to such an extent that police had only one registered killing case during the last month for which the killer has been arrested, he informed.
Sherzad said his forces are all ready to ensure security during the elections. Sarhadi Zwak, spokesman of Laghman governor said security parameters are now improved in the province. He said 80 percent of Laghman province is in government control.
Zwak admitted because of growing insecurity, roads leading to Aishang, Alingar, Badpakh district were closed with heavy presence of militants. He went on to say the routes are reopened now and people travel without any sense of fear.
He said security forces have their full focus to maintain order and launch immediate offensive when they get reports of militants’ presence anywhere. Gulzar Sangarwal, secretary of provincial council told Pajhwok Afghan News security in Laghman is improved as compared to the past, adding, however, some problems still haunt the residents, which are yet to be tackled. 
Earlier, there was widened gulf between government institutions and people but now close coordination among various state institutions left far-reaching positive impact on security and law and order. Sangarwal admitted rivalry among state institutions in his province virtually paralyzed the security, adding that law and order was confined only to Mehtar Lam. Zaifnon Sapi, representative of Laghman province in the Wolesi Jirga reiterated security in the province has now been improved comparatively. She said shuffling in provincial officials produced tangible results to improve security.
Rasool Khan, hailing from Alingar district told Pajhwok Afghan News militants used to roam freely in his district, adding with the deployment of local police force, militants could not be seen close to districts.
The district had bombing blasts and killing reports almost every day but after the deployment of local police, people go to work without fear, he added. He urged upon the security forces to extend its writ to insecure districts to get rid some areas of militants influence.
Another local, Aqifullah said people have tired of fighting and deteriorated law and order and they are now ready to extend every possible support to the government to restore order.
Laghman has five districts including the provincial capital, and roads leading to all districts have now opened. However, local officials said militants have some presence in far-flung Sangra, Shamtek, Gularam and Noraki localities.