PANJWAI DISTRICT, Afghanistan – Malik Abdul “Mujahid” Rahman, an Afghan Local Police checkpoint commander, was killed by a Taliban-emplaced improvised explosive device near Nahkonay village, Panjwai district, Kandahar province, July 31.
Mujahid received a cell phone call informing him of the location of an IED between two of his checkpoints along a route he patrols daily. Mujahid found the IED lying unburied in the road. Upon approaching the IED for investigation, it exploded and killed him instantly.
Placing unburied IEDs in the center of roads is a new tactic insurgents are using in southern Panjwai to target ALP and Afghan Uniform Police patrolling from Nahkonay to Molla Dost villages.
This is the second attack of this kind seen in recent days; the first targeted and killed an Afghan Uniform Police officer earlier this week.
Both attacks came on the heels of several advancements Afghan National Security Forces made in the past few weeks including the clearing of several key villages of insurgent activity, creating a new checkpoint, and establishing a bridge in Molla Dost.
The Taliban continue to put Afghan civilians in harm’s way by placing IEDs like the one that killed Mujahid in public places such as gardens, grape huts, fields, and near homes.
“Insurgents often try to target the ANSF by emplacing IEDs on the public routes," said Javid Faisal, a spokesman for the Kandahar governor's office. “However, many recent IED strikes have only killed innocent civilians.”
According to a recent U.N. report, the Taliban’s recently ramped up campaign against the ALP is another cause for “intensified civilian bloodshed.” Since the local police live among the people, the report explains, Afghan citizens frequently become victims of crossfire.
Though challenges remain, the ANSF continue to grow in capability and confidence, making it their mission to take the lead in the nation’s security and protect the people of Afghanistan from acts of violence inflicted by insurgents.