Top security official accepts neglect in prevention of hostage-taking

The army chief of staff has confirmed of negligence in preventing hostage taking in highways of the provinces.

Army chief of staff who traveled to Baghlan and Kunduz provinces with senior deputy of the interior ministry and deputy of National Directorate of Security noted that the problem will be solved as soon as possible.

“Last year, the armed Taliban group’s hostage taking was against one religion and ethnic but this year it becomes overall. We accept to start our measures a little late but we promise to our people that this won’t be repeated again,” said Qadam Shah Shahim, army chief of staff.

However, the governor of Kunduz province ignores insecurity of the province.

“The Kunduz province is not insecure, we make further efforts for providing the security of the province and wherever insecurity exists we are there,” said Asadullah Amar Khail, Kunduz governor.

The inhabitants of Baghlan province also expressed concerns over the insecurity in the province and complaint from military forces.

“There is no security in the province, the military forces should wake up and see these problems from outside not inside,” a tribal elder of Baghlan said.

Asadullah Shahbaz, member of Baghlan provincial council also said, “The joint activities of security organs are under the air-conditioners; they should implement it in the battle ground.”

With a reaction to the demands of people, the army chief of staff has warned all security officials of Baghlan to dismissal if neglected.

“We vow that this condition will not be continued,” Shahim added.

There has been a sharp increase in kidnapping of civilians by Taliban militants in recent weeks.

Late last month, militants apparently loyal to the Taliban abducted around 200 passengers traveling from Kabul to northern Badakhshan and Takhar provinces.

Most of the passengers were soon released, but the kidnappers have killed around 20 of the abductees.

Some of the kidnapped passengers still remain in captivity with their fates being unknown.

The sharp increase in the kidnapping of passengers – mainly civilians – traveling through highways indicates an apparent shift in the trend of kidnappings that are carried out by the militant groups in Afghanistan.

Government officials accused the Taliban for the kidnapping in Kunduz. The Taliban have not denied having role in the recent incidents, though the group usually rejects being involved in kidnapping civilians.

Earlier as well promises were made to protect the civilians on the main highways but they ended up in smoke.

People want to see tangible results and they can only be satisfied of the performance of the relevant authorities if they find changes in their circumstances and see their lives secured and free from different sorts of threats.