Road Paving In Southern Afghanistan

Years of war, roadside bombs and the punishing extremes of weather have laid siege to the main route passing through Panjwaii district, the heartland of Kandahar province and birthplace of the Taliban. Chunks of pavement are interspersed with gravel and sand, perfect hiding spots for the dozens of IEDs - improvised explosive devices - that have been sown along the road in the last two years. "There's not a day where we don't hear about an IED on that road or find an IED on that road," said a Canadian soldier who works with the Afghan military. The harsh terrain makes it difficult for villagers in the district to bring their produce to market or get to work or go to the three schools that serve the population. It's especially bad in the rainy season when the sandy ground turns to mud. "With the road, the people of Panjwaii will be able to come back, to start business again," said Haji Baran Shah, the district leader in Panjwaii. Elders estimate that as many as 50 Afghans have died along the road in the last six months. In the middle of January, five Afghans were killed and three were injured when a roadside bomb likely meant for a Canadian convoy hit a taxi. "I lost my heart, my son. Who is responsible for that?," said Juma Gul, whose son Abdul Samad, 33, was among the dead. "Who will feed our family any more?" More than 100 other Afghans are buried in cemeteries that flank a turn in the highway that winds past the major mosque in the district. A paved road will help people reach this holy and sacred place. In the course of the road construction, walls will be built to help protect the graves. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/War_Terror/2008/02/09/pf-4837380.html

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