KABUL/ KANDAHAR (SW) – At least four provincial capitals have been witnessing mounting Taliban assaults since last evening, officials said on Monday.
The Taliban insurgents attacked a number of security checkpoints in the 13th, 8th, 7th and 15th security districts of Kandahar city early this morning. As per the latest reports, fighting was still going on in some areas.
There have also been reports of Taliban attacks in Arghandab, Dand and Daman districts of the province.
At least 60 Taliban insurgents were killed and 15 others were wounded in a series of clearing operations in the area, according to a statement issued by the Atal Corps and a special unit.
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However, the Taliban have denied these reports, saying that in addition to Kandahar City, advances have been made in a number of districts.
Meanwhile, the Taliban captured the sixth police district of Ghazni city this morning. According to local sources, Ghazni police’s sixth security district and a large army base in the same district were evacuated by security forces last evening and captured by the Taliban.
A provincial council member, Ghulam Sakhi Zabuli said that the buildings and other parts of the sixth district were under Taliban control and that Taliban fighters had set up bunkers in some high-rise buildings.
Residents in Ghazni told Salam Watandar that security forces had retreated from two military bases after heavy fighting last night, but Ghazni provincial officials would not comment.
In addition to other provinces, fighting has also intensified in Helmand, which has left people deeply concerned. A security source, who did not want to be named, told Salam Watandar that fighting was still going on in the 3rd, 7th, 8th and 9th security districts of Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital.
According to reports, the use of heavy weapons and airstrikes during the war have made life difficult for residents.
Abdul Haq Zwakman, a civil society activist in Helmand, told Salam Watandar that the fighting in Lashkar Gah was at an all-time high. According to him, besides other residents of the province, local investors who have invested billions here are worried about the future.
Fighting also broke out in Taluqan, Takhar province, last night, which resulted in killing of 25 Taliban insurgents, including members of the Taliban’s ‘laser unit’, and wounding 16 others, officials said.
The Taliban have not yet commented.
ENDS
