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| Afghanistan |
| Helmand Battles Ease Slightly After Heavy Clashes |
| 2016-08-18 |
| As both sides return to the well The provincial governor's office in southern Helmand said that battles on the frontlines eased off slightly on Wednesday in a number of districts in the province. The security forces have meanwhile started clearing the Kandahar-Helmand highway for military forces after insurgents placed many roadside mines along the route, said officials. The highway was closed by insurgents ten days ago and troops having been trying to reopen it to the public ever since, said the governor's office. The governor's office also said that 32 Taliban insurgents were killed and wounded in recent clashes with security forces but officials did not provide details about casualties among security forces. The Afghan air force is still carrying out airstrikes in different parts of the province, targeting insurgents. Officials meanwhile have confirmed that despite an ease in fighting, security forces are not actually advancing in their battle due to the high number of roadside mines. On Tuesday, the Army Chief of Staff Qadam Shah Shahim visited Helmand and said that insurgents are trying to take control of the province with the help of regional intelligence agencies and a number of international smugglers but that security forces will not let them succeed. He said that Helmand has witnessed heavy clashes between security forces and the Taliban in the past few weeks. He also said that security forces are planning a large-scale military operation to clear the areas of insurgents. Meanwhile, officials at the emergency hospital in Helmand said that in the past 15 days more than 216 people, including security force members, have been admitted to the hospital. "In the past 15 days the number of casualties has increased and compared to the same time last year, far more casualties were brought in to the hospital. We are working 16 to 17 hours a day," said the head of Helmand emergency hospital, Vesna Nestovoric. Asadullah, a policeman who lost a leg and a hand in the Kandahar-Helmand highway clash recently said from his hospital bed that he had been on duty at a checkpoint when attacked by Taliban. "I was at my check post on the Kandahar-Helmand highway when the Taliban seized the highway. My commander told me to go to re-open the highway. We were caught up in a clash when a rocket landed close to me and I was wounded. When I opened my eyes I was in hospital and realized I had lost a hand and a leg," the policeman said. "My family so far doesn't know about this," he said. Gul Mohammad, another police officer who was injured in the battle, said he will return to the battle filed to defend his country as soon as he is well enough to do so. "I will defend the country and my people till the last drop of my blood. My slogan is that I will give my head but not my stronghold," he said. Sharif, a 13-year-old civilian teenager, who was also wounded in a Helmand battle, said that during the battle he lost his elder brother. "Me and my brother were leaving home when we heard gun shots. I lost my brother in that clash and I was wounded. Now I am in here [hospital] for treatment," he said. Thousands of families have been displaced over the past few weeks due to the ongoing clashes in the province – specifically in Garemsir, Nawa, Washir and Nad Ali districts. |
| Posted by:badanov |