Taliban fighters have resumed operations against the southern city of Kandahar, eyewitnesses said on Wednesday as violence continues to surge in various regions of the country, particularly in the northeast.

Residents in Kandahar province said the Taliban has penetrated areas in the city and some residents are fleeing their homes. 

“The bazaar is at standstill. Now it is around 11:00 am, but no one is at the bazaar, the people have a lot of apprehension,” said Mohammadzai, a shopkeeper in Kandahar.

“For God's sake, for the Quran's sake, what is our fault, where should we go? May God destroy you,” said an internally displaced citizen in Kandahar, Nida Mohammad.

In Helmand province, also in the south, fighting continues around the provincial capital of Lashkargah. On Wednesday a car bomb was detonated near the police headquarters in Lashkargah city. Reports say there were no casualties from the explosion. 

Residents in Helmand said that the security forces have not advanced against the Taliban. 

“The Taliban launched an attack on Lashkargah city of Helmand province,” said Khaled Wardak, Helmand's police chief.

“Civilian institutions must be protected, the government should also be careful about airstrikes to help curb civilian casualties,” said Abdul Baseer Mohadadi, a resident of Helmand.

In the southern province of Uruzgan, however, an official said that security forces repelled Taliban attacks on the capital city of Trinkot.

“The Taliban attack faced strong resistance from our security forces,” said Uruzgan governor Mohammad Omar Sherzad.