Malistan district officials flee as Taliban close in

TIRINKOT (Pajhwok): Members of the additional security forces in Malistan district of southern Ghazni province on Tuesday said the district chief and all permanent security personnel had escaped after the Taliban attack.

Additional security forces from neighboring Uruzgan province and 60 soldiers as well as 20 Special Force soldiers from Kabul recently reached Malistan district to fight against attacking Taliban insurgents there.

The Taliban recently launched attacks on some areas of Malistan district and were able to reach near the district center three days ago.

Eyewitnesses say clashes between the Afghan forces and the Taliban are still ongoing in the district center and around government buildings.

Reinforcement soldiers in the district say the district chief, police chief, intelligence head, security personnel and all civil officials fled Malistan after the Taliban reached the district center.

Second Lt. Atiqullah Samsur, head of the third police district of Uruzgan who arrived in Malistan, told Pajhwok Afghan News the district’s security situation was controlled by security forces from Uruzgan and Kabul.

He said there were no government officials in the district since the last three days. All government officials including the district chief have left the district, he said.

“It is possible the district officials and security personnel are hiding in some area or have moved to Ghazni province,” he said.

Samsur said both the sides suffered casualties during clashes in Malistan. He added local officials had turned off their telephones and could not be contacted.

A special forces soldier in Malistan district, who wished to go unnamed, told Pajhwok that the district’s security was controlled only by soldiers coming from other areas.

He said the district bazaar was closed and no commodities were accessible. The soldier said their unfamiliarity with the area had turned the battle complicated for them.

Local residents also said the situation in Malistan has worsened.

A resident of the district, Murtaza, in a telephone contact with Pajhwok, said that Taliban reached the district center due to government’s negligence. He said hundreds of families had been displaced due the conflict.

Pajhwok tried to contact Ghazni officials about the situation in Malistan, but failed.

mds/ma

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