Heavy fighting is underway in several fronts across Afghanistan after Taliban launched attacks on the Afghan security forces’ security outposts in various regions of Ghazni, Maidan Wardak, Laghman, Baghlan and Helmand provinces over the last 24 hours.
In the latest wave of violent incident, Taliban stormed two security outposts in Arezo village on the outskirts of Ghazni city, killing at least 16 security force members and injuring three more.
In Maidan Wardak province, local officials have confirmed that in Maidan Shar city, three soldiers apparently associated with the Taliban opened fire and killed ten soldiers and then fled to a Taliban-controlled area along their military equipment.
The Afghan Ministry of Defense said that the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) have dealt major blows to the Taliban during the recent spate of violence in various parts of the country.
“Heavy casualties were inflicted to the enemy particularly in Helmand, Baghlan, Ghazni, Maidan Wardak and Kandahar provinces. The security forces are crushing terrorists with more strength than ever before,” said Rohullah Ahmadzai, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.
Ahmadzai said that the ANDSF stormed a gathering of high-profile Taliban members in Bolan area outside Lashkargah city and killed a key Taliban commander and wounded their shadow governors.
“At least six security force members were martyred following their resistance against the Taliban in Arezo village of Ghazni, three more solders were wounded. Likewise, 12 other (soldiers) were taken hostage by the Taliban. In the second outpost, no resistance occurred and eight soldiers surrendered to the Taliban,” said Hassan Reza Yousufi, member of Ghazni provincial council.
“It is not right that the government evacuate outposts or districts and deploy in the center of the cities. We should take the war from the centers to the districts and to the remote areas,” said Khan Agha Rezayee, the head of parliament’s internal security commission.
In western Afghanistan, at least 23 Taliban fighters were killed and 27 others were wounded after the Afghan Air Force targeted a gathering of local Taliban commanders in Bala Buluk district of the province, local officials said.
Farah governor Taj Mohammad Jahid said that the air strike was carried out on Friday in Shewan village of Bala Buluk.
Taliban has also claimed that their fighters fired several missiles on a security base in the area.
“The Taliban once again proved their dark face. They massacred the hostages,” said Dadullah Qane, the head of Farah provincial council.