LASHKARGAH - President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has held a video conversation with top officials of southern Helmand province and tasked a delegation to visit the province and assess the security situation closely, a statement from Presidential Palace said on Tuesday.
Chief Exective Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and other high ranking officials were present during the video conference held Monday evening with Helmand governor, police chief and other local officials, the statement said.
After hearing from officials, the president decided to send a delegation to the restive province to assess security situation closely.
Governor and police chief briefed the president on security situation in Sangin and Marja district. Ghani stressed the need for coordination and more cooperation among different security institution in Helmand.
On Monday, fierce clash reported between security forces and Taliban militants in the Sangin district.
The clash erupted after dozens of armed militants stormed security posts in the troubled district, with each side claiming to have inflicted heavy casualties on the other.
Omar Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban militants stormed security check-posts in Sangian in the morning and were pushed back and inflicted heavy causalities. But he gave no figure.
Six of the 13 Helmand districts have been under the Taliban control. In some districts the group has strong presence and only the district centres are with the government. (Pajhwok)