Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Afghanistan acknowledges struggle to tackle the Taliban after losing key district in Helmand

Taliban fighters overran Musa Qala this week in a setback for Afghan troops

Chris Stevenson
Saturday 29 August 2015 01:48 BST
Comments
An Afghan National Police armored vehicle patrols on a street in Lashkar Gah capital of Helmand province, Afghanistan August 26, 2015
An Afghan National Police armored vehicle patrols on a street in Lashkar Gah capital of Helmand province, Afghanistan August 26, 2015 (REUTERS/ Stringer)

Your support helps us to tell the story

This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.

The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.

Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.

Afghanistan’s acting Defence Minister, Mohammed Masoom Stanekzai, has acknowledged the “difficulties” his security forces face against the Taliban after they lost control of a key district in Helmand province.

Taliban fighters overran Musa Qala earlier this week in a setback for Afghan troops seeking to stand on their own following the withdrawal of Nato combat forces last year.

Mr Stanekzai said the army’s attempt to retake Musa Qala – for years the scene of some of the deadliest Taliban attacks on British and other Western forces in Helmand –was “challenging”.

The fall of the district came shortly after the Taliban seized the neighbouring area of Nawzad and cemented its control of a third district in northern Helmand.

However, Mr Stanekzai told the BBC that Afghan security forces were “firmly resisting” the Taliban and the reported growing presence of Isis jihadists. Mr Stanekzai said his country’s troops would battle any group that posed a “threat to Afghanistan”.

Nato’s “Resolute Support” coalition, led by the US, has bombed Musa Qala, formerly a Taliban stronghold and centre of the Afghan opium trade – about a dozen times in recent days, with air strikes against army and police headquarters now occupied again by the Taliban.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in