US advisors aiding Afghan forces in Ghazni

KABUL insurgents in southern Ghazni province amid sporadic clashes, killing more than 140 assailants since August 10. 

US forces spokesman Lt. Col. Martin L. O’Donnell said in a statement that clearing operations against the Taliban were underway and sporadic clashes particularly outside the city, continued.

He rejected claims of the Highway-1 being closed and prisoners being freed as false. 

He said the Highway-1 was open with Afghan forces occupying key checkpoints to maintain security.

He said Afghan forces repelled an ineffective Taliban attack against the city’s prison on August 12, which remains firmly under government control.

“Ghazni City remains under Afghan government control and the isolated and disparate Taliban forces remaining in the city do not pose a threat to its collapse as some have claimed.”

But he said Taliban’s attempts to hide themselves amongst Afghan populace “does pose a threat to the civilian population”, who were terrorized and harassed by the ineffective attack and the subsequent execution of innocents, destruction of homes and burning of a market.

Lt. Gen. Mohammed Sharif Yaftali, Afghan Ministry of Defense chief of general staff, told a press conference yesterday that the Afghan forces were focused on clearing the city entirely.

But the clearance operations would take time so as to avoid civilian casualties, financial loss and destruction to the city.

The NATO spokesman said in addition to the initial strike and close-air support on Friday, US forces conducted five strikes Saturday, 16 strikes Sunday and two thus far today.

“Again, tactically, operationally and strategically, the Taliban achieved nothing with this failed attack except another eye-catching.

pr/nh/ma