KABUL - The acting Afghan Defense Minister Masoom Stanikzai said Wednesday that Afghans are fighting the foreign insurgents in a war which has been imposed on Afghanistan and the Afghan people.

Briefing the Afghan reporters regarding the situation of southern Helmand province, Stanikzai said efforts have been put in place to bring the situation in Helmand province under control, admitting that heavy clash continue in different parts of the province amid ongoing operations.

He praised the Afghan national security forces for resisting the Taliban offensive and said the Afghan forces continue fighting the insurgents along with the military commanders on the battlefield.

Stanikzai also admitted that the Afghan security forces facing serious challenges following the withdrawal of the coalition security forces as they face militant groups including Taliban and the newly emerged ISIS terrorists as well as the smugglers of opium and drugs.

He said the main focus of the Afghan forces is currently on Sangin district but the operations are underway in Greshk, Khanshin and Nad-e-Ali districts.

According to Stanikzai, additional forces have been deployed in the area of repulse the Taliban offensive and the Afghan forces are receiving air support which has considerably reduced the casualties of the security forces.

He also added that well coordination has been set up among the Afghan security institutions in Helmand province and the security forces are carefully conducting operations in a bid to prevent harming the local civilians. (KP)