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Following a week of heavy clashes between the Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents, the district of Sangin in Helmand province has been cleared of insurgency, said Ministry of Interior Spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, on Friday.
Speaking on air with TOLOnews, Sediqqi said that more than 250 Taliban militants were killed in Sangin district. The Taliban launched major offensives in four districts of the province—Mosa Qala, Kajaki, Sangin and Nawzad—last week, causing several civilian causalities.
According to local official reports, the district of Sangin shouldered most of the burden from the fighting.
Sediqqi did not provide details about the exact number of civilian and Afghan force causalities, but stated that more than two-dozen Afghan officers were killed in Sangin only. Moreover, eight Taliban commanders were also killed.
He added that further investigations are underway.
“Taliban first raided the local police outposts seven days ago,” detailing the event. “Several foreign insurgents have been killed in the Sangin battle. The lesson learned from the Helmand clash is that the Taliban can no longer hold ground in Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, according to the Helmand Police Chief, Abdul Qayoum Baqizoy, the Afghan forces have started a clearing operation in Sangin.
He said that they are slowly clearing the roadside mines that the insurgents had placed in the district.
A while ago, local Sangin officials had said that more than 800 Taliban insurgents—including Pakistanis and Arabs—had attacked the district.
Sediqqi claimed that Pakistani soldiers supported the insurgents in Helmand.
“We have evidence that shows that Pakistani soldiers were involved in the clash," he said. "We will share our concerns regarding this with the Pakistani government.”
Pakistan borders parts of Helmand province creating border tensions between the two countries as more than 2,000 displaced families leave their homes and move across the border.
Like 20 years ago in 1994 when thousand of paki soldiers crossed the border to fight against Massoud. Shame on Pakistan.
Speaking on air with TOLOnews, Sediqqi said that more than 250 Taliban militants were killed in Sangin district. The Taliban launched major offensives in four districts of the province—Mosa Qala, Kajaki, Sangin and Nawzad—last week, causing several civilian causalities.
According to local official reports, the district of Sangin shouldered most of the burden from the fighting.
Sediqqi did not provide details about the exact number of civilian and Afghan force causalities, but stated that more than two-dozen Afghan officers were killed in Sangin only. Moreover, eight Taliban commanders were also killed.
He added that further investigations are underway.
“Taliban first raided the local police outposts seven days ago,” detailing the event. “Several foreign insurgents have been killed in the Sangin battle. The lesson learned from the Helmand clash is that the Taliban can no longer hold ground in Afghanistan.”
Meanwhile, according to the Helmand Police Chief, Abdul Qayoum Baqizoy, the Afghan forces have started a clearing operation in Sangin.
He said that they are slowly clearing the roadside mines that the insurgents had placed in the district.
A while ago, local Sangin officials had said that more than 800 Taliban insurgents—including Pakistanis and Arabs—had attacked the district.
Sediqqi claimed that Pakistani soldiers supported the insurgents in Helmand.
“We have evidence that shows that Pakistani soldiers were involved in the clash," he said. "We will share our concerns regarding this with the Pakistani government.”
Pakistan borders parts of Helmand province creating border tensions between the two countries as more than 2,000 displaced families leave their homes and move across the border.
Like 20 years ago in 1994 when thousand of paki soldiers crossed the border to fight against Massoud. Shame on Pakistan.
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