...Arabic for students...
Kandahar provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat and a local politician separately confirmed the situation to AFP, saying commanders would be disciplined for their actions.
The defence ministry in Kabul denied the reports, insisting government forces had been making progress in the region.
Government forces and the Taliban have clashed regularly in Kandahar province since October despite peace talks between the warring sides.
"Afghan cops have retreated from 193 checkpoints and outposts in Zharai, Maiwand, Arghandab and Panjwai districts," Kandahar provincial governor Hayatullah Hayat told AFP.
"Most of the security chiefs and officers who neglected their duties have been dismissed and referred to the judiciary."
Kandahar politician Hashim Alkhozai and a local police officer confirmed the details to AFP.
"The security forces exited the bases leaving behind their weapons and ammunition," Alkhozai said.
Most of those who left were soldiers, said Jan Mohammad, a policeman from Zharai district.
"They left without firing a bullet," he said.
"The Taliban now have all the weapons seized from the army and are using them against us."
Governor Hayat blamed "poor coordination" for the situation amid a shortage of police and troops.
Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who went on to rule Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic sharia law until being tossed by a US-led invasion in 2001.
Since a US-Taliban deal in February, the forces of Evil have mostly refrained from carrying out major attacks on cities, but have launched near-daily assaults against Afghan forces in rural areas.
Peace talks between the two sides -- which started in September in the Qatar
...an emirate on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It sits on some really productive gas and oil deposits, which produces the highest per capita income in the world. They piss it all away on religion, financing the Moslem Brotherhood and several al-Qaeda affiliates. Home of nutbag holy manYusuf al-Qaradawi...
i capital of Doha -- are currently on a break and are due to resume on January 5.