LASHKARGAH - Security officials on Wednesday said operations against militants were successfully underway in Khanshin and Garamser districts, but they called as precarious the situation in Nad Ali district of southern Helmand province.
Afghan National Army’s 215 Maiwand Militry Corps first battalion commander Brig. Gen. Noor Alam Halim told Pajhwok Afghan News in the Khanshin district that the district centre had been completely cleared of militans.
He said in order to further improve the security situation, the army and police had launched joint operations and so far a large number of attacking militants had been killed. The dead rebels included Pakistanis, he said.
The military official said the rebels had been prevented from advancing in the Garamser district.
Deputy provincial police chief Col. Dil Jan Khakrezwal said the security situation in southern districts was under control and efforts were underway to reduce threats in Khanshin and Garamser.
Khakrezwal said the joint police and army operation in Khanshin and Garamser districts would continue unstopped.
Garamser district chief Idrees Alizai told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Taliban launched a series of attacks on the district, but they were defeated each time.
He said besides waging the war, the rebels had launched a widespread propaganda, spreading terror among residents.
But a security official in the district told Pajhwok Afghan News that they possessed enough weapons and military gear. He said the insurgents had captured Banadar area of the district and they were still in control of the area.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said security forces were in control of only the district centre in Khanshin and the rest of the areas were with the Taliban.
However, security officials declined to comment about the situation in Nad Ali district.
But some sources said only the district administration building and Chah Injeer area were under government control and the rest had been captured by the rebels.
A member the local council in Nad Ali, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, that some security posts in Loy Bagh area had fell to Taliban and a clash was underway in Chah Injeer area.
A tribal elder in Chah Injeer area, Amanullah, told Pajhwok Afghan News: “A mortar shell hit my house last night and injured my three sons.”
The clash between security forces and insurgents entered a third day on Wednesday.
A day earlier, officials said 800 fresh security forces would reach Nad Ali district soon.(Pajhwok)