News / Afghanistan

Afghan troops liberate southern district from Taliban

Saturday, 19 December 2015 2:20 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 19 December 2015 2:20 AM ]

Afghan forces arrive to fight with Taliban militants in Helmand, October 21, 2015. (Reuters)

Afghan military forces have retaken a district in the southern province of Helmand from the Taliban, after it fell to the militant group earlier this month.

Deputy Interior Minister Ayoub Salangi said Afghan troops liberated the district of Khanashin in the south of Helmand on Friday.

"The district of Khanashin is cleared of enemies, and Afghan forces inflicted heavy casualties," Salangi noted.

A traditional stronghold of the Taliban, Helmand has been the scene of fierce fighting between the militants and government forces in recent months.

The militants have already seized the districts of Musa Qala and Nowzad in the north of the province and threatened the provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

In recent months, the Taliban have resurged in several parts of Afghanistan, including the northern province of Kunduz. They stormed the province on September 28 and held it for three days before being driven back by the Afghan army.

Kunduz is considered a strategic region as it is located on a crossroads that connects the key regions of Afghanistan. It is also located along the country’s border with Tajikistan and could offer the militants the opportunity to establish a base in the north.

War-torn Afghanistan continues to face insecurity 14 years after the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. Although the Taliban was removed from power as a result of the invasion, many areas in the country are still threatened by insecurity.

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