KABUL (SW) – The Taliban have carried out attacks in Helmand and Ghor provinces by taking advantage of the good intentions of the government and people for peace, the presidential palace said on Monday.
Presidential spokesman Sidiq Siddiqi has said in a series of tweets that the Taliban have escalated violence against the Afghan people by carrying out “brutal and terrorist” attacks. The spokesman added that the Afghan government and people made a huge sacrifice for peace by releasing 6,100 dangerous Taliban prisoners hoping for peace to prevail.
This comes amid mounting Taliban assaults in Helmand, Ghor and a number of other provinces. According to sources, some 300 Taliban insurgents have been killed in clashes with the security forces in Helmand alone while at least 30 security forces are also reportedly killed.
A day earlier, a deadly car bombing killed at least 15 people and injured over 100 others.
These attacks have been widely condemned.
“I strongly condemn another appalling act of violence against Afghan civilians in Ghor. #NATO stands in firm support with the Afghan security forces in their efforts against terrorism and for lasting peace”, tweeted the NATO Senior Civilian Representative Ambassador Stefano Pontecovo.
ENDS
