Economy in doldrums as roads remain shut

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AT-KABUL: The closure of highways especially the roads heading to port areas and other business place hits the national economy by millions of Afs every day. The road to Aqina port town has been closed by demonstrators who protest the arrest of police officer Nezaoddin Qaisari in the northern province of Faryab.

The chamber of commerce and industries said Tuesday that closure of the road to Aqina, Hairatan and other port towns put negative impacts on the imported merchandise and hurt businessmen by millions of Afs every day.

Supporters of Qaisari warn they would keep the roads closed if the government did not meet their demands and free him.

Qaisari is an ally to the first vice president Abdul Rashid Dostum who is in exile for more than a year.

Meanwhile, second vice president Sarwar Danesh, has reportedly met Dostum in Turkey, emphasizing on the solution to the current problems. Danesh is in Ankara to attend Turkish president Erdogan’s swear in ceremony. Dostum has expressed hope that the problems be solved in the sphere of trust, mutual cooperation and co-existence.

According to the chamber of commerce and industries, Aqina is an important port and its closure would damage economy nationally.

Economic analysts also believe that nobody has the right to block roads and limit business ports as hostage for their personal or political goals.

They called on the government to solve the problem as soon as possible.

Demonstrations in support of Qaisari and Dostum has expanded to other provinces in the north and people in Badakhshan, Takhar, Jawzjan and Sar-e-Pol protest government’s arrest of Qaisari.

The protestors called on the international community to help their problems be solved, otherwise, they would boycott the October legislative election.

Some members of parliament say the government should have equal behavior with the irresponsible armed men.