The Ministry of Interior (MoI) announced the creation of a special unit of 200 members for the security of Qosh Tepa canal.

MoI’s spokesman, Abdul Mateen Qani, told TOLOnews that the unit was created with by order of the Islamic Emirate leader, and will operate within the framework of the deputy of the National Public Protection Force (NPPF), for the purpose of protecting the Qosh Tepa canal.

According to the spokesman, these special forces will increase with the progress of the Qosh Tepa canal.

"A special unit, consisting of about 200 personnel, has been established by the order of Amiral-Mominin to ensure the security of the Qosh Tepa canal project. This is the first round of that unit," Abdul Mateen Qani told TOLOnews.

The spokesperson stressed that Afghanistan today has many opponents who do not want the country's economy to grow and become self-sufficient.

"We have many enemies who do not want Afghanistan to progress and develop, especially the international projects that are our infrastructure. They [projects] might face security problems, so there is this unit with 200 personnel who are fully professional and have received military and security training in their respective fields,” Abdul Mateen Qani said.

According to some economists, protection and security of large construction projects, especially the Qosh Tepa canal, are important in the country.

"With the construction of this project, which is facing obstacles, the making of a security unit by the Ministry of Interior is necessary and can prevent challenges,” Shamsur Rahman Ahmadzai, an economist, told TOLOnews.

“Qosh Tepa canal is a national and economic project that is very valuable for Afghanistan. The Islamic Emirate's action to protect it is considered a valuable step and can have a positive effect on the economy,” Abdul Zuhor Mudabir, an economist, told TOLOnews.

The creation of a special security unit for the protection of the Qosh Tepa canal project was announced as the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock recently rejected the propaganda on social networks about the beginning of the distribution of land around the Qosh Tepa canal.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) said in a statement that based on the order of the leader of the Islamic Emirate, no one has the right to distribute or sell the land around this canal.