Roadside bombs or IEDs have been Taliban-favored weapon to target military convoys, both national and foreign. The technique has taken lives of hundreds of foreign troops over the past 10 years. Although International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has tried various methodologies to detect these bombs, however, there have been failures. Highways connecting capital Kabul to certain volatile provinces where Taliban have been able to maintain their grip have been destructed by roadside bombs at every few kilometers. Meanwhile, such bombs can easily be produced by insurgents with materials imported from neighboring countries.

The security responsibilities of the country have been transitioned. Last year, under the final phase of security transition process, the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) took over security responsibilities of their country from ISAF. Since then ANSF has increased patrolling and transferring troops by land to areas where they intend to launch operations against the militants. This work has not been without risks of Taliban attacks. Scores of Afghan soldiers have been the victims of IEDs.

Roadside bombs planted by insurgents on the main highways connecting various provinces of Afghanistan have also been killing civilians. IEDs that used to be the greatest killer of foreign troops in Afghanistan are now blamed for most of civilian casualties in the country. 

Afghan National Army spokesman, Noman Atifi said on Tuesday that 6 Afghan soldiers were killed in Alasay district of Kapisa province when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb. In another attack, Azad Khan — district chief in eastern Afghanistan's Paktia province — said a roadside bomb there killed three civilians and wounded seven others on Tuesday.

Roadside bombs also pose great threat to the process of transferring of logistics and personnel to 34 provinces of Afghanistan for April 5th presidential and provincial council elections. There is no doubt that the Taliban will use IEDs to disrupt the election process and target employees and logistics of Independent Election Commission (IEC). Countering such attacks is going to be one of the greatest challenges for Afghan security forces.

Roadside bombs planted by Taliban are the deadliest weapons being used by Taliban that is killing scores of military and non-military people every year. Unfortunately, there is no efficient method near Afghan military to prevent such bombs. The only way is to increase the surveillance of the highways by establishing more military check posts along them.