Taliban threats close 40 schools in south Afghanistan: Officials
Iran Press TV
Tue May 14, 2013 1:13PM GMT
Nearly 40 schools have been closed in Afghanistan’s southern province of Zabul due to threats posed by the Taliban militant group, local officials say.
Provincial deputy governor Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar said on Monday that rampant insecurity and Taliban's threats are the main reasons behind shutting down of schools in Shajoy district of Zabul province
“In the last two months, nearly 40 schools have been closed due to Taliban threats in Shajoy district. This has raised our concern,” Tolonews quoted Rasoulyar as saying on Monday.
Meanwhile, a number of Zabul residents have expressed concern about the closure of schools.
“Threats of the Taliban have caused the closure of our schools,” one of the residents said.
“We are asking the Taliban to allow our schools to be opened,” another resident added.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.
The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but insecurity remains across the country despite the presence of thousands of foreign troops.
In the first six months of 2012, over 1,140 Afghan civilians were killed and around 2,000 were wounded, mostly by roadside bombs, according to statistics released by the United Nations. Thirty percent of the casualties were women and children.
MR/PR
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