Afghan road project attacked

The severe risk of working in Afghanistan was highlighted when Taliban insurgents attacked a road construction firm in Paktia Province.
February 29, 2012 Read time: 1 min
The severe risk of working in Afghanistan was highlighted when Taliban insurgents attacked a road construction firm in Paktia Province. During the five hour shoot-out between the Taliban and security personnel for the construction firm, a number of the company's employees were killed. Estimates suggest that several of the Taliban attackers were also killed. The numbers have not been confirmed. Afghanistan is currently seeing investment in its road connections, with the 2332 World Bank having provided financing in a bid to boost transport and help rebuild the country's shattered economy. However these are relatively easy targets for insurgents. The Taliban have attacked several projects that have been put forward by the Afghan Government in a bid to undermine the administration. Foreign road construction workers have been a particular target, with several having been abducted from camps.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Bolivia dual carriageway project stalled
    September 12, 2016
    Work remains at a halt on the 70km dual carriageway upgrade connecting Yapacani with Montero in Bolivia’s Santa Cruz department. A disagreement between the Mexican construction company that was building the link, Tradeco, and Bolivia’s road administration department, ABC, resulted in the contract being cancelled. The route, Highway 4, runs from Yapacani through Santa Fe, San Carlo and Portachuelo to Montero and the project was intended to improve the road and boost its capacity by increasing the number of l
    Read More
  • Road user charging to pay for road improvements?
    February 20, 2012
    What is the current situation with Russian roads? It is an objective answer to this question that is contained in the official report of the Federal State Statistics Service for 2009. Here it states: "...public roads are of poor quality: 8.4% of roads accounted for groundwater, nearly a third of roads are gravel, rubble or cobblestone.
    Read More
  • Kenya develops annuity road funding model
    May 8, 2015
    Kenya is introducing novel methods for funding its necessary road infrastructure development - Shem Oirere writes. Kenya has unveiled a new financing model for road construction and reviewed its design standards and construction methodologies, which forms part of a new strategy for the East African country. Under this new plan Kenya is planning to upgrade 10,000km of road, with these links featuring asphalt surfacing; the work being carried out over the next five years at a cost of US$2.8 billion. Despite t
    Read More
  • US road safety is a cause for concern
    September 6, 2021
    There is concern over a worrying trend in US road safety, while there have been steady gains in road safety in Europe
    Read More

Highlighted Content