Cape Times E-dition

Taliban captures US-built dam

THE Taliban have captured Afghanistan’s second-biggest dam after months of fierce fighting in their former bastion of Kandahar, the insurgents and officials said yesterday.

Dahla Dam, which provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for the provincial capital, was now under Taliban control, local officials said.

Haji Gulbuddin, governor of an adjacent district, confirmed the dam “is now in the control of the Taliban”.

The dam’s capture comes after clashes erupted in neighbouring Helmand province this week, just days after the US military formally began withdrawing its remaining troops from Afghanistan.

Kandahar water department chief Tooryalay Mahboobi said the Taliban recently warned Dahla employees not to go to work. Last month the insurgents blew up a bridge that connected the dam to adjacent districts.

Dahla was built by the US nearly 70 years ago to provide water for irrigating land in about seven districts of Kandahar.

The surrounding district has seen intense fighting in the past six months, but officials announced in April that the area had been cleared.

WORLD

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2021-05-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-05-07T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://capetimes.pressreader.com/article/281754157193233

African News Agency