Afgan militants plunge community of 2m people into darkness

Two million people are without electricity after a militant group destroyed a power line in eastern Afghanistan.

Sarhadi Zwak, Laghman spokesman, said a group of militants in Badpakh district of Laghman province, deliberately cut the cable by firing at it.

He said in the last 12 days, the whole province as well as neighbouring Nangarhar province did not have electricity and have been in total darkness.

Zwak said the attack on the line was intended to put pressure on the government to supply electricity to people in the area where the armed group came from.

“Laghman has no any alternative electricity source,” he said.

“Government offices were using diesel generators, but private households were mostly left without power.”

He said the tribal elders tried to negotiate with the local militia for access to the site to repair the cable.