Reports indicate that some parts of Ghazni province, including the outskirts of Ghazni city and Andar district, have faced heavy clashes between Afghan forces and the Taliban over the past few days as the new fighting season begins.

Almost 30 security force members have lost their lives in recent clashes in Ghazni and Badakhshan provinces, sources confirmed. This includes the death of nine police force members in a Taliban attack on a police outpost in Police District3 (PD3) of Ghazni city on Thursday night. The head of the PD3 police headquarters, Mujib Mahmoudi, was also among the victims.

“At least 10 security force members were martyred in the PD3 inside the Ghazni city,” said Hamidullah Nawrozi, member of Ghazni Provincial Council.
The Ministry of Interior, however, confirmed the death of eight police force members in the hours-long clash.

According to local officials, a rocket landed on a school in Andar district in Ghazni on Friday in which four students and two teachers were killed and 15 others were wounded.

It is not confirmed whether the rocket was fired by the security forces or the Taliban.

“People are living in other provinces but in Ghazni, we are seeking ways to stay alive,” said Safiullah Hamidzai, a Ghazni resident.

Parts of Ghazni city, almost 146 kilometers in the southwest of Kabul, were fallen to Taliban last year in August. One month after that, President Ghani in a trip to the city vowed to establish three more police districts and implement a special security plan for the province in six stages.

“During his trip to Ghazni, President Ghani made 12 promises but has implemented none of them,” said Khalid Bahar, a Ghazni resident.

Meanwhile, heavy clashes were reported in Arghanj Khwa district in northeastern Badakhshan province.

The Ministry of Interior’s spokesman Nusrat Rahimi said the Afghan forces left the area in Arghanj Khwa district in a tactical move to prevent casualties. He said no casualty was inflicted to government forces in the clash.

Arghanj Khwa district connects at least 10 districts of Badakhshan to Faizabad city.

“The district has been evacuated. The forces are fighting on its outskirts. At least 15 people including civilians and military men have been martyred,” said Mirza Mohammad Yarmand, a retired military officer.