Security Forces Confront Taliban Offensives in Baghlan

Taliban offensives in Pul-e-Khumri city in Baghlan to break the defensive fronts but they faced strong response by Afghan commandos and police special forces and their attacks were pushed back; however, pressure remains on the capital city.

The security forces assured that they will prevent the Taliban from entering Pul-e-Khumri.

Heavy clashes have been underway on the outskirts of Pul-e-Khumri city for the last five days. But security forces have managed to prevent the group from entering the capital city. Pul-e-Khumri city witnessed intense clashes between security forces and the Taliban on Thursday night. Trapped civilians on both sides of the battlefield spent a night full of panic.

“Taliban had launched offensives in Block Ha and Band-e-Dowom areas. They fled when we arrived on the battlefield,” said Sediqullah, a commander of commando in the northeast zone.

“Clashes are underway. We struck the enemy strongly,” said Payenda, a commander of the 888 Police Special Unit.

Baghlan residents are backing Afghan security forces by taking arms and fighting along with them. They are protecting every street to prevent the Taliban from entering their city.

“We won’t let the enemy achieve its evil ends,” a special forces member Basir Tokhtah said.

This comes as Afghan forces retook the control of six districts from the Taliban in three districts in the last 24 hours, a major progress following back-to-back fall of territory to the militants.

The districts include Andkhoi and Khan Chahar Bagh in Faryab, Khinjan and Doshi in Baghlan, and Ahmad Aba and Sayed Karam in Paktia, according to information provided by the Ministry of Defense.