The interior minister and the deputy defense minister went to Kandahar on Sunday amid growing concern over the deteriorating security situation in the southern province. 

Clashes have been reported in parts of Arghandab district, which is close to the city of Kandahar. The Taliban has reached close to the centers of some districts in Kandahar in recent weeks. 

Arghandab, Zherai, Dand and Pajwai districts have witnessed clashes between government forces and the Taliban in the last few months.  

But Interior Affairs Minister Massoud Andarabi said the elements that threatened a collapse of the province have been removed. 
 
“Arghandab district has its own issues. Here, the strength and capacity of Afghan forces were displayed. Over 650 Taliban have been killed in the operation to retake parts of Arghandab over the last two months. They lost many of their commanders,” Andarabi said. 

“The Taliban’s calculation to overrun Kandahar and Helmand was proved wrong and you know that many areas have been retaken by our security and defense forces,” Deputy Defense Minister Shah Mahmoud Miakhil said.  

Kandahar lawmakers recently said that they see a lack of coordination between security agencies in the province that has led to a fragile security situation in the southern province. 

Meanwhile, local officials said that the number of recently displaced people in the province has increased to over 11,000 families. 

According to the refugees and repatriation directorate of Kandahar, 11,500 families have been displaced due to conflicts in the province.

“The enemy is facing defeat compared to a few months ago when there were some problems. It cannot do anything other than planting some mines here,” said Daud, an army soldier in Kandahar.