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'We won't survive': Residents speak of ongoing battle in Ghazni
[Al Jazeera] As Afghan cops backed by US airpower continue to battle Taliban...the Pashtun equivalent of men... fighters in the eastern city of Ghazni, hundreds of civilians have been displaced with little means to survive. Fighting raged for a fifth-straight day on Tuesday following the brazen attack by the gang that threatens the control of the strategic city, about 150km south of the capital, Kabul. While information has been scarce, an estimated 400 people have been killed so far, including about 150 civilians, according the UN and the Afghan ministry of defence. "When the fighting intensified, we knew we would die if we didn't leave our home to travel to Kabul," Ghazni resident Yassan Yassan, 21, told Al Jazeera, adding the Taliban had cut electricity and water supplies across the city. Recalling the violence, Yassan said: "I witnessed a rocket landing on a group of people attempting to escape. All of them died." She also said the Taliban set government buildings on fire and blocked several areas including the Kabul-Kandahar highway. "We had to pass through dangerous areas to get to Kabul, we witnessed the worst festivities between the Taliban and security forces," said Yassan. The UN's Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said between 130 and 150 civilians have reportedly been killed, but those figures remained unconfirmed. Sanela Bajrambasic, a representative of International Committee of the Red Thingy, told Al Jazeera from Geneva that the situation deteriorated very fast. "It is a sad reality and it is leaving deep wounds on [Ghazni's residents]," she said. "We have been focused on helping the local hospital. As of today, we are also trying to help collect bodies and to transport them back to their families." Bodies of Pakistanis killed in Ghazni city being shifted to Pakistan: Khattak [KhaamaPress] The leader of the Awami National Party founded by Abdul Wali Khan in 1986. Part of the PPP-led cabinet 2008-13. The ANP is considered left wing, advocating for secularism, democratic socialism, public sector government, and economic egalitarianism.... of Pakistain Afrasiab Khattak has said that the dead bodies of the Pakistanis killed in Ghazni city clashes, are being shifted to Pakistan. Khattak was citing reports regarding the killing and apprehension of several Pakistani militants during the Ghazni clashes as he asked the Pakistani authorities in for an explanation. Calling the involvement of the Pakistani militants the repetition of the Jalalabad fiasco in 1989, Khattak said authorities in Pakistan must change its policy. This comes as the Afghan defense minister Tariq Shah Bahrami said Monday that the attack on Ghazni city was carried out by Taliban with the support of foreign militants, including Pakistanis, Chechens, and Arabs. In regards to the casualties of the militants, Bahrami said at least 194 militants have been killed so far, including 12 of their senior commanders. He also added that more than 147 militants have sustained injuries while 20 civilians were also killed during the clashes. This comes as clashes continue between the Taliban militants and the Afghan forces in Ghazni city since early Friday. Posted by: Fred 2018-08-15 |
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