Information
Equipo Nizkor
        Bookshop | Donate
Derechos | Equipo Nizkor       

11Oct15

Taliban claims control of district in Kandahar

As the Taliban continues to press its offensive in northern Afghanistan, the jihadist group remains active in the south as well. Today, the Taliban claimed it took control of the district of Ghorak in the northwestern part of Kandahar province. From Voice of Jihad, the Taliban's official propaganda outlet:

    Ghorak district center and surrounding check posts which have been under Mujahideen attacks for the past few days were finally completely by Mujahideen overnight.

    The final attack which took place last night resulted in Mujahideen overrunning the district administration center, police HQ building and a nearby large check post, killing a total of 20 gunmen and seizing 3 vehicles, an APC, 23 various type weapons and other equipment.

    This comes a few days after 21 gunmen from the same defensive belt check posts surrendered, 2 check posts were overrun and 12 commando troopers killed while trying to reinforce the center on Friday.

The Taliban's claim has not been confirmed by the Afghan press, but the group has accurately reported on districts it has overrun in the past.

The Taliban control or contest a belt of districts in the south spanning from Farah to Helmand, Uruzgan, and now Kandahar. The Taliban may use its presence in this belt to threaten Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand, or Kandahar city. The loss of either city would be a major blow to the Afghan government.

Afghan security forces are stretched thin as they attempt to fight the Taliban on multiple fronts. If the security situation continues to deteriorate in the north, the Afghan military may be forces to cede ground in the south.

[Source: By Bill Roggio, Threat Matrix, The Long War Journal, NJ, 11Oct15]
Bookshop Donate Radio Nizkor

War in Afghanistan & Iraq
small logoThis document has been published on 19Oct15 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.