LASHKARGAH - Taliban militants overran the Khanshin district of southern Helmand province after heavily clashes that left four police personnel eadand 11 others wounded, officials said on Tuesday.
A senior government official, who wished to go unnamed, confided to Pajhwok Afghan News that heavy clashes were ongoing between the Taliban and security forces since Monday night.
The Taliban captured the restive district early in morning. A local police official, meanwhile, confirmed the district’s fall and the loss of four policemen in the firefights.
A provincial council member, Baryalai Nazari, also verified Khanshin’s capture by the insurgents. He gave no further details.
But the governor’s spokesman, Omar Zwak, said clashes were still underway between Afghan forces and the rebels.“The district is still under Afghan forces’ control; they are fighting against the militants,” he added.
Taliban’s spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadialso said fierce clashes took place in the district last night.He added the Taliban had gained control of the district centre and several other areas. Some arms and ammunition were also seized by the militants, Ahmadi claimed.
The incident comes as Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qadam Shah Shahim on Monday, during a visit to Helmand, claimed that the Taliban had been defeated and they could not capture any area in the province.
This is the second time Khanshin has fallen to Taliban in the past three months. (Pajhwok)