Fierce fighting has been continuing for the control of Khanshin district in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province over the past two days and Taliban have suffered huge casualties, spokesman for provincial government, Omar Zawak said Saturday.
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The US has been training and equipping Afghan security forces in order to withdraw American troops from the country, but earlier this year President Obama authorised the troops to participate in the fight against the Taliban.
Earlier several other districts too came in control of the Taliban that includes Marjah, Garmser, Sangin and Dishu.
Helmand produces most of the world’s opium, which helps fund the Taliban.
Atal said troops had been deployed to retake the district, but it would be a hard task “because the Taliban have destroyed all the checkpoints”.
Security officials were seen setting up an attack post in Sangeen district of Helmand on Friday after gaining ground on Taliban militants through an attack that left at least 30 insurgents dead, an epa journalist reports.
The report, published by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), said the area under Afghan government “control or influence” had decreased to 65.6 percent by the end of May from 70.5 percent near the end of January, based on data provided by USA forces in Afghanistan.
At the end of January this year the government had control or influence to 70.5 percent of the districts, but by the end of May it decreased to 65.6 percent.
The fall of the district, which borders Pakistan and major poppy-producing districts, means “Taliban are in control of 60 percent of Helmand”, Akhonzada said.
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Zwak added that one police personnel was killed and five others including Khanashin district police chief Abdul Rauf were injured in the conflict. “With the backup of global forces, Afghan security forces recaptured some outposts”, Zwak said on Saturday.
