20 Security Force Members Killed, Wounded in 24 Hours

As the summer fighting season approaches, the scale of war and violence continues to rise in Afghanistan. The latest figures show that at least 20 members of the Afghan security forces were killed and wounded in the past 24 hours in five provinces of the country.

The casualties were reported in Ghazni, Daikundi, Badakhshan, Khost and Balkh provinces.

Lawmakers in Afghanistan’s parliament meanwhile warned that there will be more fatalities among the security forces if they do not take an offensive stance.

In the latest incident, Abdul Rahman Fateh, the acting police chief of Deh Yak district in Ghazni, was killed on Monday in a roadside mine blast in the province.

The incident occurred in Deh Yak district of the province on Monday afternoon when Fateh and other security forces were transporting supplies to local forces and his vehicle struck a roadside mine, the sources said.

“While the security forces were trying to clear landmines in the surrounding areas of the district, a roadside bomb exploded, which resulted in the death of the police chief and three others wounded,” said Khaliq Dad Akbari, a member of the Ghazni provincial council.

In Daikundi province, at least four security force members were killed in a Taliban attack in Pato district. Two other soldiers were wounded.

“Daikundi also has its own issues—currently three districts are under threat from the enemy,” said MP Sayed Mohammad Daud Naseri.

“The Taliban’s attacks have increased—there is no significant response from the security forces, they are still in a defensive mode, this situation puts the security forces in harm’s way,” said Sayed Zahir Masroor, a member of parliament.

In the northern province of Badakhshan, at least three Afghan National Army officers were killed in a firefight with the Taliban.

In Khost province, at least ten security force members were killed and wounded.

However, local officials are not providing information about casualties.

“The Taliban has had several attacks in the past 24 hours—all their attacks were repelled, particularly in Herat, Zabul and Kandahar provinces,” said Rohullah Ahmadzai, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

“If we do not take the enemy under control, if our security agencies do not report the enemy’s objectives in a timely way–operations and ideas–I can say it with certainty that the level of violence will worsen,” said military analyst Atiqullah Amarkhel.

Residents in Kabul meanwhile called on the warring sides to stop the war and agree on a ceasefire.

“We are now tired of this situation—how long should this war continue?—decades have passed and we are still gripped by war—therefore I appeal to them to come and make peace,” said Zohra Mangori, a resident in Kabul.

“Violence must stop so that peace can prevail in our country,” said Ahmad Sahil, a resident in Kabul.

According to security agencies, in the past 24 hours, security incidents occurred in 20 provinces.