Afghanistan Times
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By Mansoor Faizy
KABUL: There is no major concern regarding the collapse of the Lashkargah city, the provincial capital of Helmand, to the Taliban insurgents, a provincial official said.
Fareed Ahmad, an official at the Information Directorate, told Afghanistan Times that after deployment of around 100 US troops in the province, progress have been made in fight against Taliban insurgents.
“Afghan security forces made progress in Lashkargah’s Baba Jee area, and Nad Ali’s Chah Injeer areas after arrival of the US troops,” he said.
He added that security situation of the province is improving, and we have planned to carry operation in other areas to restore writ of the government there.
“All concerns regarding fall of Lashkargah are removed. There is no big threat to the district,” he said.
He added that high profile leaders of the Taliban were killed in airstrike carried out in Babe Jee area, Nad Ali and Marjah districts. However he did not give exact details regarding casualties inflicted on the militants.
The optimism comes after the US army says that an American service member died as a result of wounds sustained during operations near Lashkargah on Tuesday. Another US soldier was injured in the battle. Six Afghan soldiers were also wounded, US officials said in a statement.
The service member was killed conducting training, advising, and assisting activities with Afghan counterparts under NATO authorities when they hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during patrol, the statement added.
The killing of US soldier comes after 100 US troops have been deployed in Helmand to help Afghan security forces in the fight against Taliban insurgents.
A US military official in Afghanistan said that the decision for the deployment of around 100 troops to Helmand was taken following tactical victories by the Taliban.
It is worth mention that recently, the Taliban militants have launched a series of attacks to capture strategic districts and provinces. Intense fighting is underway between the insurgents and Afghan security forces in Helmand and Kunduz provinces. The Taliban seemed to be in dominant position in these provinces as the militant group still controls over 80 percent of the two provinces.
