In a statement, the Taliban said some areas of Baghlan were still deprived of the facility in breach of the commitments held out by the government.

They warned of snapping transmission lines to Kabul in Baghlan if work on distribution of electricity was not launched in certain areas of the provincial capital, Dand-i-Ghori and Shahabuddin districts.

But Breshana Shirkat Director Sultan Ahmad Azizi was unaware of the Taliban threat. He said they had installed power pylons in the area and had sent a formal request to the Ministry of Energy and Water for cables.

He added when the required material arrived in Baghlan, they issue would be resolved.

Hameedullah, head of the Breshna Shirkat in the north, told Pajhwok Afghan News: 'We have nothing in hand right now. We would strive to distribute electricity to all areas.'

Police spokesman Zabihullah Shuja told Pajhwok Afghan News no area in Baghlan was faced with the electricity problem. He said the Taliban were trying to misguide the masses.Afghan forces had the ability to remove the threat, he asserted.

The Taliban destroyed an electricity pylon in Dand-i-Shahabuddin last year, cutting off the imported electricity supply to Kabul for 40 days.

nh/mud

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