Afghan security forces backed by worldwide troops were battling for control of an important district in southern Helmand province on Saturday, a day after it was announced the government had lost five percent of its territory to insurgents in recent months, officials said.
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An Afghan security force member takes position during a military operation against of Taliban in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 29, 2016. Earlier Taliban attacks in Khanshin district were repelled twice in recent months.
Much of Marjah, Sangin, Garmser, and Dishu districts had already fallen to the Taliban.
Kanashin borders Pakistan and major poppy-producing districts, and is an important drug smuggling route. Helmand produces most of the world’s opium, the raw material of heroin, which helps fund the Taliban’s insurgency.
However in public statements, the Taliban have said that they wish to have good relations with Afghanistan’s neighbours, many of which are concerned at the threat of local Islamist or separatist militant movements.
In its quarterly report to Congress, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (Sigar) observed that in the second quarter of this year, the Taliban gained new territory and now control 19 of the country’s approximately 400 governing districts.
The report said the Afghan government was in control of 65.6 percent of the districts in the country in May, a drop from 70.5 percent near the end of January.
He said that the bomb, which went off at around 9.30am, targeted Afghan security forces who were buying fruit and other supplies for their nearby base.
The fighting has spread north to other districts, where militants are targeting checkpoints and have killed at least seven policemen, he said.
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A 40-year-old man was killed instantly and a 23-year-old man died later of his injuries, Ahmadi said.
