LASHKARGAH - After Garamser and Khanshin districts, the Taliban launched overnight coordinated attacks in Nad Ali and Marja districts of southern Helmand province, an official said on Sunday.
Hours after the Afghan commando forces brought under control the situation in Khanshin district, the Taliban attacked some security posts in Nad Ali district last night, the governor’s spokesman said.
Omar Zwak told Pajhwok Afghan News the security forces put up stiff resistance to the Taliban attackers, preventing their advance in Nad Ali. He said a fierce gun-battle was still ongoing in the district.
In Marja district, the insurgents blew up a bridge, Omar Zwak said, adding government forces would soon launch a clearing operation in the four districts.
Meanwhile, Helmand provincial council’s security committee head Bashir Ahmad Shakir said despite threats, no action had been taken about recent Taliban attacks. He said both the district and provincial administrations were responsible for the situation.
Shakir said right now NATO forces should extend full-pledged support to the Afghan forces to block the Taliban’s advance.
Meanwhile, an official in the Nad Ali administration told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Taliban had captured some security posts during last night and this morning attacks.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said a police commander Haji Lal Jan was killed along with his forces during last night clashes, but he had no exact figures.
He also the rebels blew up a bridge between Marja and Lashkargah and two security posts on the same route had been captured by the insurgents.
The governor’s house in a statement said nine Taliban militants had been killed and four others wounded during clashes with security forces in the Garamser district since yesterday afternoon.
The statement said the clashes left one security official dead and two others wounded.
The Taliban also claimed advancing in various areas of Helmand.
The Taliban overran the Khanshin district on the night between Friday and Saturday, but the Afghan commando forces recaptured the town on Saturday afternoon.(Pajhwok)