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Heavy clashes underway in the outskirts of Sar Pul city
[KhaamaPress] Heavy clashes are underway between the Afghan National Defense and security Forces and the Taliban militants in the outskirts of Sar Pul city in North of Afghanistan.The local officials confirm the clashes are underway between the two sides since last night. Provincial governor’s spokesman Zabiullah Amani said the clashes erupted late on Sunday night and the two sides are still engaged in heavy gun battle. He said both the Taliban and the Afghan forces have sustained casualties during the clashes but did not elaborate further regarding the exact number. Security sources are saying that a military base has also collapsed into the hands of the Taliban militants but the local officials have not commented regarding the report so far. This comes as the security situation has sharply deteriorated in northern Sar Pul province during the recent years amid rampant insurgency led by the Taliban and ISIS loyalists in Afghanistan. Numerous infighting among the Taliban and ISIS loyalists have also been reported in Sar Pul and other northern provinces besides sporadic clashes between the Afghan forces and the anti-government armed militants.
“Both sides have casualties but here is no exact information,” Amani said. In the meantime, security sources said that a military base has fall to the Taliban in Balghali village in the center of the province, adding that “the Taliban attacked the capital of the province from Sayad district, and the west and northern parts of the city and are two kilometers far from the city.” However, officials have not confirmed the fall of the military base but appealed for air support. The officials have also confirmed that Sar-e-Pul – Jawzjan highway is closed to traffic and the Taliban created check posts. This comes after the center of Kham Aab district of Jawzjan also fell to the Taliban early Monday after heavy clashes started on Sunday night. Ismael, the district police chief said that “we have been surrounded with 50 security forces members and if the government does not send reinforcement, the security forces will be killed in the clashes.” The Taliban have also confirmed the attack and claimed that “the district was completely captured” by Taliban fighters. Posted by: trailing wife 2018-09-11 |
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