KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The Taliban have captured a key district in theirformer bastion of Kandahar after fierce night-time fighting with Afghangovernment forces, officials said Sunday, the latest area to be seizedsince US troops began their final withdrawal.
The insurgents have pressed on with their campaign to capture territoryacross Afghanistan’s rural areas since early May when the US military beganthe pullout.
The fall of Paktia and Panjwai districts comes just two days after US andNATO forces vacated their main Bagram Air Base near Kabul, from where theyled operations for two decades against the Taliban and their Al-Qaedaallies.
Over the years, the Taliban and Afghan forces have regularly clashed in andaround Panjwai, with the insurgents aiming to seize it given its proximityto Kandahar city, the provincial capital.
The province of Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who went on torule Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic sharia law until beingoverthrown by a US-led invasion in 2001.
Panjwai district governor Hasti Mohammad said Afghan forces and the Talibanclashed during the night, resulting in government forces retreating fromthe area.
“The Taliban have captured the district police headquarters and governor’soffice building,” he told AFP.
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Kandahar provincial council head Sayed Jan Khakriwal confirmed the fall ofPanjwai, but accused government forces of “intentionally withdrawing”.
Fighting has raged across several provinces of Afghanistan in recent weeksand the Taliban claim to have seized more than 100 out of nearly 400districts in the country. Afghan officials dispute the claims butacknowledge that government troops have retreated from some districts. Itis difficult to independently verify the situation.
The exit of foreign troops from Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, hasfuelled concerns the insurgents will ramp up their campaign to capture newterritory.
Bagram Air Base has great military and symbolic significance, with foreignforces previously stationed there offering vital air support in the fightagainst the insurgents. Afghan authorities who have taken control of thebase say they will use it to fight terrorism, and have already re-activatedits radar system. -APP/AFP
