The security situation has been deteriorating in Nangarhar province for more than a month. Civilians in the formerly secure province have been targeted in several bombings and other attacks that have raised public concern. The provincial government is trying to reassure the population that they are in control, but observers say that the root of the problem could be in the government itself.

A conflict has recently broken out between Nangarhar’s governor, Gul Agha Shirzai, and Members of Parliament from the province, as well as some members of the Provincial Council.
A few days ago the MPs and Provincial Council members met to demand that Sherzai step down as governor. He is accused of corruption, seizure of government property, and of disregarding orders from the central government, specifically the presidential palace.

But the governor told reporters that the MPs had no authority to remove him; that prerogative belongs to President Hamid Karzai, who appoints provincial governors.
As the conflict continues, security worsens, and many people see a direct link between the two.

Ahamd Zai Abdulzai, spokesperson for Nangarhar governor, confirmed the recent conflict between the governor and did not deny that it could have affected security.
“The opposition benefits from this situation,” he said.

But Abdulzai insisted that said that constructive measures have been taken to stabilize security in the province.
“We are developing a plan to neutralize the opposition,” he said, adding that it was the new practice of targeting civilians that was really responsible for the new level of insecurity in Nangarhar.
“There are many reasons behind the current insecure situation in Nangarhar,” said Mohammad Anwar Sultani, a military analyst. “In my opinion, the failure of the security forces to discover the plots of the armed opposition is one of the main reasons for the problem, as well as NATO airstrikes that have killed civilians in Kunar province.”

Anger at the foreign forces pushes people to support the opposition, say local people, which makes it more difficult to counter their actions.
Abdul Rahman, a resident of Jalalabad city agrees. “The irresponsible airstrikes by the coalition forces fuel insecurity,” he said.
Maqsoud a resident of the province has similar complaint.
“People are not happy with the foreign forces since they carry out reckless air attacks and enter people’s houses by force,” he said. “Such actions by the foreign forces make people help the Taliban.”
According to Sultani, the plans for the gradual transfer of security responsibility to Afghan forces has encouraged the opposition to intensify their military operations, contributing to the overall worsening of the situation.

The situation has been deteriorating for over a month in Nangarhar; there have been many incidents where civilians have been targeted. The opposition hit a private bank last month, in the bloodiest attack since the fall of Taliban regime in Jalalabad. It left more than 40 dead and approximately 100 injured.

The situation has been growing steadily worse over the past year. According to Pajhwok News Agency, there were 157 incidents including 11 suicide attacks in 1389 (which ended March 21).
The opposition also bombed the Surkh Rod and Goshti districts governors and set 41 NATO fuel tankers on fire last year.

According to Abdulzai, the spokesperson for the Nangarhar governor, 193 people, including civilians and military officials lost their lives in NATO airstrikes and approximately 300 others were injured in Nangarhar during the same period.

The Nangarhar police chief Alishah Paktiawal told reporters that the opposition is now focusing on suicide attacks as well as Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), which are  usually planted along the roadside.

On March 22 the 2nd day of Nawroz, President Karzai announced the first seven regions to be handed over to Afghan National Security Forces. Jalalbad was not among them.
Abdul Latif Shinwari, a lecturer at the Nangarhar University, sees still more reasons for the developing situation.

“Corruption, lack of services for the population, the incompetence of the security forces, all have a combined effect and allow the opposition to make progress,” he said. “Security forces do not have an organized plan to tackle the insurgency.”

Abdul Ghafoor, spokesperson for the Nangarhar Police, rejected such allegations.
“More than 2000 police have received training and they are capable enough to neutralize any plan of the opposition,” he said.

A police officer, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said that the main reason for the current situation is the failure of the chief of police Alishah Paktiawal. “The police could stabilize security if they had capable leadership,” he added.

The current situation in Jalalabad has depressed the local economy. “Insecurity has affected the market,” said Lalgul a shopkeeper. “Only a few people come to buy necessities every day.”