Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Taliban Fight Hard to Maintain Influence in Helmand

Against the abundant number of weighty claims about improvement in security condition in Afghanistan, insurgents remain potent of targeting foreign and Afghan troops and civilians. Death tolls on both military and civilian sides have gone increasing with the passage of every year. As the NATO mulls to get out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014, security condition is expected to further worsen.

Taliban's attacks are to intensify. After all, they have started dreaming of regaining power in Afghanistan after the US and its allies withdraw. And for that they will fight with more zeal and higher spirit than before. This is indicated by the recent IED attack on British soldiers in Helmand that caused six of them to die.

On Wednesday, the British military confirmed the incident. With this the death toll of British soldiers in Afghanistan has reached to 404. "I utterly condemn those responsible for this incident who will ultimately fail to derail a mission that is protecting our national security at home and making real progress in Helmand Province," British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement.

"It is because of the continuing efforts of our armed forces ... that we are on course to build an Afghanistan that can stand on its own two feet when UK combat operations cease at the end of 2014."

Of the 9,500 UK solders in Afghanistan most are deployed in southern province of Helmand that is considered one of the most insecure places of Afghanistan. One can not overlook the developments that have taken place in Helmand with the support from British Army. Not only security of the province has improved but also there have been achievements against poppy cultivation and drug traffickers.

Even, the security of Lashkargah the capital of Helmand was handed last summer to Afghan forces. Nonetheless, these achievements are deemed fragile as Taliban still have a heavy influence in the Helmand and they fight hard to maintain that.