At least two dozen Afghan police officers have been killed in a series of attacks by the Taliban militants in the southern province of Helmand in 48 hours, local officials say.
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An Afghan security force member stands guard during a military operation against of Taliban in Helmand province, Afghanistan, July 29, 2016.
Gul Agha Rohani, Kabul’s deputy chief of police, said the explosion happened east of the city’s global airport.
The central authorities have been trying for many months to convince rural districts to reduce the number of police checkpoints, as they are manned by small numbers of policemen who are vulnerable to Taliban attack.
Abdul Majeed Akhonzada, deputy director of the provincial council, told the Associated Press that the Kanashin district had “fallen into Taliban hands”.
The official said the Taliban wanted the Chinese leadership to help them raise their issues on world forums and help the group in achieving freedom from occupying forces.
Officials said that battle started after Taliban fighters attacked parts of the district on Friday night, reports Tolo news.
Helmand is a key opium producing and smuggling region.
“We have 100 percent accountability”, he said, before cutting the line.
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.
Much of the district has been taken by the insurgents, Atal said, with “just the district governor’s office, and the police and army compounds left”.
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The visit comes after the Taliban pulled out of the peace talks initiated by Quadrilateral Coordination Group consisting of Pakistan, US, China, and Afghanistan government.
