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| Afghanistan |
| Roads to Lashkargah City Blocked As War Rages |
| 2016-08-12 |
| Lawmakers in parliament Thursday blasted the Afghan government for failing to define a wide-ranging war strategy for Helmand to curb the Taliban advance, warning that the entire province will collapse to the Taliban unless government take swift action to thwart the Taliban offensives on multiple fronts in the volatile province. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed that the war is raging around Lashkargah city, the provincial capital, but assures the public that the Taliban will not be able to take control of the city. Lashkargah city enjoys common borders with Marjah, Nad Ali, Nawa, Garmsir and Greshk districts. Reports from Helmand say all routes to LashkargGah city have been closed. The Baba Ji area which is located five kilometers away from Lashkargah, the Ainak area which connects Nawa to Lashkargah and Chahanjir areas of the province have been under intense fighting over the past few days. "Helmand province will be protected at any cost, Helmand province will be cleared and no threats will reach Lashkargah," a defense ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri said. Helmand has 14 districts with five of them out of government's control including Musa Qala, Nawzad, Desho, Nawmesh and Baghran. Insurgents are also trying to tighten grips on seven other districts of Marjah, Greshk, Nad Ali, Sangeen, Kajaki, Kajaki and Washir. In recent waves of violence, the fighting has expanded in Garmsir and Nawa districts. "If Helmand collapses, five more provinces will also collapse," said senator Hashim Alokozai. "It is a normal routine that sometimes the enemy gets more strength and units are forced to retreat from certain areas," said Waziri. "In the past the commanders have not focused on the security issues and all issues were tackled through smuggling," said MP Naseema Niazi. The Ministry of Defense (MoD) has not provided an exact figure about the number of security forces and the Taliban fighters in Helmand, but analysts say that the number of government forces fighting the insurgents in the province were much higher. The only question before the residents of Helmand is how the Afghan forces despite having more military strength and personnel than the Taliban failed to eliminate the Taliban in the volatile province. |
| Posted by:badanov |