KABUL would pay heavily for the fighting in southern in Helmand province President Ashraf Ghani warned on Monday.
Helmand Governor Gen. Mohammad Yasin wrote on his Facebook account that Ghani telephoned him a few minutes ago.
They discussed the security situation in the restive province, Yasin wrote, saying the president had ordered security organs to take Helmand seriously.
“The war in Helmand will prove very difficult for the enemies of the country,” the governor said, hours after the Taliban overran several security posts in Lashkargah.
Provincial officials report of the heavy clashes between the government and the Taliban on the outskirts Lashkargah city of Helmand province.
Following fierce clashes, the militants are said to have captured Police District-4 of the provincial capital and parts of Nad Ali district and Greshk districts.
Subsequently, the security forces conducted airstrikes, inflicting heavy casualties on the militants, officials said.
Omar Zwak, the governor’s spokesman, said reinforcements had been deployed to Nawa district, where the airstrikes took place in Momin Khan Square. More than 20 insurgents were killed.
He added the Taliban's deputy governor for Helmand, Maulvi) personnel.
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