Taliban capture Kandahar’s Arghandab district

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): After the fall of Spin Boldak district, the Taliban also took control of Arghandab district located close to the capital of southern Kandahar province, the Taliban claimed on Thursday.

The district was captured by the Taliban on Wednesday night after a month of fighting between the insurgents and Afghan forces. Arghandab is located only 10 kilometers from the capital of Kandahar province.

Afghan officials did not comment on the regard, but the Taliban said they had taken control of the district.

A Taliban spokesman, QariYousufAhmadi said that they captured the district’s headquarters and police headquarters and seized large number of weapons and equipment last night.

Local people also said that the militants stormed the district last night and the firefight continued for several hours.

Nazar Mohammad, a resident of the district, said that the locals were in great fear due to intense clashes between the Afghan forces and the Taliban last night.

After several hours of fight, Afghan forces retreated from the district and the Taliban were now in control, he added.

A security official, who wished to go unnamed, told Pajhwok that the Taliban also stormed a security post in the 9^th police district of Kandahar city around 9pm Wednesday night, but the militants were pushed back.

The official said that Afghan Air Force also conducted airstrikes in parts of 15^th and 13^th police districts of the city last night, but he had no information about casualties.

Taliban also attacked a security post in 13^th police district and they captured it, he added.

Maj. SadiqEssa, spokesman of 205^thAttal Military Corps, said that Afghan security forces supported by air force killed 18 militants in Kandahar city, Zheri and Arghandab districts last night. However, he did not provide further details.

Kandahar Mirwais Hospital officials say they received six bodies and nine injured from different areas in the last 24 hours.

They said that women and children were also among the dead and injured who were hit with mortar shells and bullets.

A day earlier, 11 bodies and 41 injured people of war evacuated to the hospital.

The Taliban have so far captured 11 districts of Kandahar province in the last few weeks.

Mds/ma

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