“Civilians among fatalities in Ghazni’s ongoing battle”

KABUL attack on the capital of the province, saying civilians also suffered casualties besides the losses of warring sides.

Taliban claimed they have taken control of the central prison of Ghazni province, but other sources did not confirm the claim so far.

Militants launched a coordinated attack on Ghazni city on Thursday night. The battle is still ongoing.

A number of parliament members form Ghazni held a joint meeting in capital Kabul today.

Abdul Qayum Sajjad, a lawmaker from Ghazni, talking to the meeting, said that the clashes were still ongoing in Moi Mubarak, Khak-i-Ghariban, Hakim-i-Sanayee and some other areas of the city as around 2:30pm.

Civilians were also killed or wounded during the battle besides the losses of warring sides without providing exact figures.

“Irresponsible response and negligence of the security sector, lack of an effective leadership and administration and lack of coordination among security institutions were the reasons of Afghan forces and civilians’ casualties,” he said.

He said Ghazni representatives had told the government five months ago that the Taliban had planned targeting Ghazni province, but the government paid no attention.

Amanullah Kamrani, deputy provincial council head of Ghazni, said that the Taliban launched attacks on the capital of the province on Thursday night and the fight was still ongoing just 800 meters away from the governor’s house in Khawaja Ali area.

He also said that a number of civilians were among the dead as pictures captured from Moi Mubarak area showed bodies of civilians killed in the battle still laid on the ground.

Ghazni has strategic importance and if fallen, the militants can influence several nearby provinces as well, he said.

Kamrani said Jaghato, Khwaja Omari, Waghaz, Rashidan, Khogyhani and Nawa districts of the province were under the Taliban control and their offices were shifted to Ghazni city.

Launching a clearing operation, senior military officials’ trip to the province, equipment of Afghan forces, punishment of those military officials who neglected and assisting the families of victims were the demands of Ghazni representatives.

On the other hand, Taliban claimed capturing the Ghazni central jail and releasing all the inmates.

They said their attacks around the governor’s house and some other areas of Ghazni city were still ongoing.

A provincial council member, Ismatullah Jamradwal, said that claims about the control of Ghazni jail to Taliban were not confirmed by credible sources so far.

Security officials did not comment about the Ghazni battle today.

Mds/nh

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