Kandahar: The Taliban have captured a key district in their former bastion of Kandahar after fierce night-time fighting with Afghan government forces, officials said, sending scores of families fleeing from the area. The insurgents have pressed on with their campaign to capture territory across Afghanistan’s rural areas since early May when the US military began its final pullout of troops from the country.
The fall of Panjwai in the province of Kandahar comes two days after US and Nato forces vacated their main Bagram airbase. Over the years, the Taliban and Afghan forces have regularly clashed in and around Panjwai, with the insurgents aiming to seize it given its proximity to Kandahar city, the provincial capital. The chief of the outfit, Hibatullah Akhundzada, hails from Panjwai and Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban. Panjwai governor Hasti Mohammad said Afghan forces and the Taliban clashed during the night, resulting in the forces retreating from the area. “The Taliban have captured the police headquarters and governor’s office.” Kandahar provincial council head Sayed Jan Khakriwal accused government forces of “intentionally withdrawing”. Assadullah, a commander of border police, said it was only the police force that was fighting against the insurgents. “The army and the commandos who have better military equipment are not fighting at all,” he said.
Scores of families fled their homes after the Taliban captured the district. “The Taliban fired on our car as I was fleeing with my family. At least five bullets hit the car,” Giran, a resident said as he took refuge in Kandahar city. “The Taliban don’t want peace.” Panjwai is the fifth district in Kandahar to fall to the insurgents in recent weeks. Afghan officials dispute the claims but acknowledge that troops have retreated from some districts.
