KABUL – In the last week Afghan security forces suffered heavy lossesin clashes against insurgents across the country, but on Sunday the Afghaninterior ministry said that security forces have retreated from some areasthat have high threat levels so as to avoid additional fatalities.

According to security departments, in the last 19 days, since the startof the Taliban’s Spring Offensive, the group has carried out over 2,700attacks which resulted in high fatality rates to both security forces andTaliban militants.

During this time, Kohistan district in Badakhshan province, Belchiraghdistrict in Faryab province and Tala Wa Barfak district in Baghlanprovince have fallen to the Taliban.

Interior spokesman Najib Danish said they have plans to improve managementregarding the security situation.

“If we see that security forces suffer heavy losses in an area, we callthem to pull back to avoid fatalities,” Danish said.

In the last week, clashes between security forces and militants in Farah,Baghlan, Faryab, Ghor and Badakhshan province ended in high casualtyrates.

“In the last week we retook a few districts from the Taliban and this wouldnot happen without suffering losses. We had casualties in Farah, Baghlanand Ghor,” defense ministry’s deputy spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said.

Anwar ul-Haq Ahadi, chairman of the New National Front of Afghanistanmeanwhile blasted security departments over poor war leadership andsaid government leaders need to have an effective plan todecrease casualties among security forces.

“There are two issues. One is that the war is not managed properly and thesecond is that Taliban is getting good equipment this year from anywherethey can,” said Ahadi.

Members of the Zabul provincial council and local officials meanwhile saidArghandab district in the province is surrounded by Taliban and sofar over 70 security forces have lost their lives inclashes against thegroup.

“In the last two weeks between 70 and 80 security force members have losttheir lives and their equipment has been taken by the Taliban, but thecentral government has sent no support,” Atta Jan Haqbayan, a member of theprovincial council said.

Before this, however, Afghan security officials said the security forceswill shift from defensive positions to offensive positions to defeat theenemy.