Electricity lines, supplying power to Afghan capital Kabul, were targeted twice last week, disrupting the supply for almost a week in certain areas. As fighting intensifies, electricity infrastructure has become an easy target for Afghan insurgents, who are making self-inflicting wounds on an already battered nation. 

In the last six months, at least 35 pylons connecting imported electricity lines to Kabul and other provinces have been blown up by unknown individuals, reported Afghanistan’s Ariana news. And, the repair cost $1 million to the country’s electricity corporation. 

Last week, a pylon in the Bagram district, some 70 km north of Kabul, was blown up after the power company completed repairs on a pylon after three months of struggling in the Salang area in Parwan province. 

Kabul and several provinces remained in dark and people also face water shortages following the power cut. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban has also denied its involvement in the incidents.

Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), the power corporation, has accused officials of the interior ministry of negligence. DABS officials claimed that they had warned the security officials of these attacks. 

Despite advance warning, many pylons in the northern provinces were targeted. Security agencies have given repeated assurance but they failed to protect the country’s power infrastructure. 

(SAM)