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Govt forces in control of embattled Afghan city: officials
KABUL, Aug 11, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Afghan officials said security forces were
in control of the eastern city of Ghazni on Saturday, more than a day after
Taliban fighters launched a major onslaught on the provincial capital and as
reinforcements continued a clearance operation targeting the militants.
Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said fresh reinforcements had
arrived in the area and were battling Taliban fighters north of Ghazni,
promising that the insurgents were in no position to take control of the
city.
“The situation is fully under control. The city is not going to fall,”
Danish told a press conference, after confusion mounted over the fate of the
city following hours of official silence.
A spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan also described the fight for
Ghazni as a clearance operation, with sporadic clashes between security
forces and insurgents punctuating relative calm.
“The fact remains that the Taliban are unable to seize terrain and unable
to match the Afghan security forces or our enablement, retreating once
directly and decisively engaged,” Lt. Colonel Martin O’Donnell told AFP.
Insurgents entered Ghazni from several directions late Thursday night,
attacking media offices and damaging a telecommunications tower, effectively
shutting off mobile service to the city as of Friday afternoon — making
information about the fight difficult to verify.
An MP from Ghazni urged caution following Danish’s press conference,
saying heavy clashes continued to rage between the two sides.
“Intense fighting is still ongoing in Ghazni city. The prison is under
attack from several directions, they are trying to free the prisoners,” said
Nafisa Azimi by telephone from Kabul.
“The fear is spreading in Ghazni as the day ends, the Taliban might
intensify their attack as it gets dark,” Azimi added.
Danish said at least 25 security forces had died in the fighting along
with 150 Taliban fighters. At least one media worker from a local broadcaster
was also killed.
Earlier Saturday the Taliban claimed victory in the fight for the
embattled city, saying their forces were in control of Ghanzi after routing
Afghan troops.
“Last night, our mujahideen have completely conquered a battalion in
Ghazni, seizing weapons and ammunitions and four pickup trucks,” said Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a message to journalists.
“Our mujahideen are protecting the city of Ghazni.”
The insurgents frequently exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay
losses incurred during fighting.
Ghazni — less than two hours by road from Kabul — has been under
increasing danger from massing Taliban fighters for months with reports
suggesting insurgents had already infiltrated the city.
The attack was the latest attempt by the Taliban to seize an urban centre
and comes as pressure mounts on the insurgents to enter peace talks with the
government to end the nearly 17-year-old war.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1716 hrs