Anlaysis: Lawless land where threat of attack is ever present

Responsibility for the security of Lashkar Gah was handed to Afghan forces last year, but the capital of war-torn Helmand Province remains highly volatile and dangerous.

The city and its surrounding districts have borne the brunt of numerous deadly attacks since British forces were first deployed to the area in spring 2006.

Six years on, the strength of the Taleban and the corruption and incompetence among the Afghan army and police remain serious issues.

Set in southern Helmand, the scene of some of the British Army’s bloodiest battles, the urban centre of Lashkar Gah has been hit hard by insurgent activity and violence.

Security was said to have improved significantly in the run-up to July’s milestone transfer of control.

But the handover came days after seven Afghan police officers were killed by one of their colleagues at a nearby checkpoint. The bloodshed has continued, with car bomb attacks, IED explosions and small arms fire.

Last year, on 28 September, eight Afghan policemen were killed just a day after two civilians died when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed vehicle into a police truck.

Gareth Price, senior research fellow on the Asia Programme at Chatham House, suggested yesterday’s devastating explosion could have been designed to send a message to the Afghans warning that the national army could not necessarily guarantee their safety in the war-stricken region.