As clashes continue, Afghan MoD claims heavy toll on Taliban

KABUL: Clashes were reported in 13 provinces in the last 24 hours with security forces evacuating two districts in the north while retaking control of one district in the south on Thursday night.

The Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that 258 Taliban were killed in security forces operations in Nangarhar, Laghman, Paktia, Zabul, Herat, Farah, Ghor, Faryab, Balkh, Jawzjan, Helmand, Takhar and Baghlan provinces in the last 24 hours. Taliban has rejected the figures. The security forces evacuated from the center of Shirin Tagab district in Faryab and Dahana-e-Ghori district in Baghlan. The Defense Ministry said that security forces retook the control of Gereshk district in Helmand. Moreover, an Afghan National Army base was fallen to the Taliban in Maidan Shahr, the center of Maidan Wardak province, a source said.

A base was fallen to the Taliban in Qala-e-Kah district in Farah province on Thursday evening. The Taliban launched attacks on Qala-e-Kah district in the last two days, sources said, adding that at least eight security force members were killed in the clashes. “There is the possibility that the city of Maimana (in Faryab) and Khawja Sabzposh district (in Faryab) will fall to the Taliban; therefore, there is a need for air support,” an MP Shafiqa Sakha Youlchi said. “The Shirin Tagab district has been under siege for three years,” said Sibghatullah Silab, the deputy head of the Faryab provincial council. “The district will fall to Taliban due to lack of supply and weaponry.”

According to Faryab provincial council, several military vehicles and equipment were seized by the Taliban in Shirin Tagab. Defense Ministry spokesman Rohullah Ahmadzai said that operations have had progress in some of the areas that were evacuated by security forces. Violence has intensified following the start of the withdrawal of US and coalition forces from Afghanistan.