Hundreds flee clashes in Ghazni’s Qarabagh district

GHAZNI CITY (Pajhwok): Hundreds of families have fled homes due to fierce clashes between Afghan forces and Taliban insurgents in Qarabagh district of southern Ghazni province, officials said Sunday.

The Taliban have besieged Qarabagh district centre since last few days and launched coordinated attacks against Afghan forces there.

Mohammad Akbar, a resident of Qarabagh district, told Pajhwok Afghan News that clashes between Afghan forces and the Taliban were going on in the district center and nearby areas.

“Taliban are stationed around the district center and they do not allow people to go there, the district bazaar is also closed,” he said.

He said that hundreds of families had left their homes and displaced to other areas due to clashes.

Nasrullah, a resident of Laigh area of Qarabagh district, said that Taliban captured Laigh, Kalbi, Behbud, Gudali and some other areas from where the insurgent group launched attacks on Afghan forces.

“Taliban have shut all routes to the district and planted bombs on them,” he said.

Mohammad Anwar, who shifted his house from the conflict area in Qarabagh district to Ghazni city, said, “I am from Nasukhel area of the district, many people have left their houses in Laigh and Gudali areas, there was intense violence since the last few days.”

A number of other residents held similar complaints while some others said that they also received serious financial damages as result of war.

Ghazni police chief, Brig. Gen. HekmatullahKuchai confirmed clashes in Qarabagh district and said that Taliban hid in people’s homes and that was the reason they could not launch operations.

He said that militants in the district launched attacks on Afghan forces but they were unable to advance.

Ghazni refugees and repatriation director, Mohammad Sardarzoi, said that around 800 families had been displaced by war in Qarabagh district.

He said that the displaced families would be assisted after a survey.

Taliban say they killed or wounded15 Afghan forces in Qarabagh fighting.

A day earlier, four civilians were killed in a landmine blast in Qarabagh district.

Mds/ma

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