LASHKARGAH (SW): Following the fall of southern Helmand’s Musa Qala district to the militants on Wednesday, the Taliban have vowed to follow government forces further south.
The Taliban overrun Musa Qala district centre, Police headquarter, the Provincial Reconstruction Team’s building and all surrounding check posts in an overnight assault. “The enemy (Government forces) fled their positions after suffering heavy losses”, the militants stated on their site.
“Mujahideen are now pursuing the convoy which came in as reinforcements and is currently retreating towards Gerishk district”, it added. Grishk is a southern district in Helmand some 120 km (75 mi) northwest of Kandahar province.
Mohammad Sharif Khan, the district chief has vowed to reclaim Musa Qala soon. Earlier he told SW hundreds of militants stormed the district where the government forces were already facing shortage of supply following a four-day siege.
Sharif claimed some 70 rebels and 15 men of the security forces have died while around 100 security men are wounded. Locals have told SW that the militants have also captured a live Pacha Gul Bakhtyar, the Provincial Director for Security who was in Musa Qala during the fighting.
Taliban organized a self-styled military parade near Musa Qala last week in which they displayed a number of armored vehicles and weapons captured from the government forces. According to the militants, the parade was in line with the new Taliban Supreme Leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor’s directives.
ENDS
