Nawa district still under government control: Officials

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Local officials on Monday said the Nawa district of southern Helmand province had not fallen to Taliban and reinforcements had arrived to keep the militants at bay.

Earlier some Helmand officials, including a parliamentarian, said that Nawa district had been overrun by Taliban and the district police chief killed.

However, the governor’s spokesman, Omar Zwak, told Pajhwok Afghan News only some parts of the district had been captured by the Taliban. He confirmed the district police chief, Ahmad Shah Salim, had been killed.

“The whole district is not under Taliban’s sway, as security forces are putting up strong resistance. More air force personnel from Kandahar province and Lashkargah, the provincial capital, have reached the area,” he said.

Many militants had been killed and several others wounded in airstrikes by Afghan forces, the spokesman said adding three policemen were also killed in the fighting.

On the other hand, provincial council head, Karim Khan Attal, said Afghan forces were already informed about the attack on Nawa, but security organs did not take any action in time.

“The Taliban blew up a military tank full of explosives after the district police headquarters and forcing the security personnel to retreat,” the public representative added.

Abdul Wadood, a Wolesi Jirga member from Helmand and brother of the slain district police chief, said the town had been overrun by Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi claimed Nawa district was captured by the movement’s fighters this nmorning.

About two and a half months ago, Taliban had captured all areas of Nawa except the district centre. Afghan forces then used subways for movement. Nawa was once one of the most peaceful districts, where people travelled without fear.

mds/mud

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