Southern Helmand province military officials on Monday said in the last eight months foreign forces along with Afghan forces carried out over 400 airstrikes against insurgents in different parts of the province.
The 215 Maiwand Military Corps Commander, General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, said the strikes carried out by the Afghan forces and foreign troops on insurgents and have had good results in the elimination of the armed groups.
“In the last eight months Afghan and foreign forces carried out 400 airstrikes in which a big number of Taliban were killed. Currently, our forces are busy in Maiwand 7, Maiwand 8 and Maiwand 9,” said Ahmadzai.
Helmand provincial council members have meanwhile said the airstrikes did not have any impact on insurgent’s activities in the province. According to council members, there are still a few districts of the province are under Taliban control.
“If the security forces want to retake a district, they can do that. However, holding the district for a long time is difficult because there are not enough forces,” Ataullah Afghan, head of the council said.
The 215 Maiwand Military Corps is optimistic about the increase of airstrikes while Baghran, Nowzad, Musa Qala, Khanshin and Desho districts of the province have been under Taliban control for some years.
Fighting is also ongoing between Taliban and security forces in parts of Lashkargah city, the capital city of the province.