Taliban advance on Laghman capital, prison under siege

Taliban militants attacked the Alishing district and Mehtarlam, the capital of Laghman province, sources said Sunday night.

According to the sources, heavy clashes are underway between the Afghan security forces in the provincial capital of Mehtarlam city.

Sources told Ariana News that the provincial prison is under siege and that the Taliban were “shouting via a load speaker and asking the prisoners to escape.”

Security sources from the prison told Ariana News on condition of anonymity that two outposts close to the prison fell to the Taliban.

Atiqullah Abdul Rahimzai, Head of the Provincial Council, citing sources said that two bases of Afghan forces in Alishing district, and a base in Mehtarlam fell to the Taliban in the last 24 hours.

Rahimzai added that at least 12 outposts have been overrun by the Taliban in the province and that “some of the posts were abandoned without resistance.”
The provincial security officials have not yet commented in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Taliban claimed that its fighters captured a base and two outposts in Mehtarlam and also captured a number of Afghan security force members.

This comes after acting defense minister General Yasin Zia, who is also the chief of army staff, visited Laghman on Sunday to review the security situation in the province.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement earlier Sunday that Zia visited Laghman, “to lead counter-terrorism operations.”