Afghan troops recapture Washer district

LASHKARGAH (PAN): Afghan troops recaptured an insurgent stronghold during an operation in southern Helmand province, an official said on Thursday.

The Taliban were ousted from Washer district, 80 kilometres north of Lashkargah, the provincial capital, the governor’s spokesman said.

Daud Ahmadi told a press conference Afghan forces had launched patrols in areas adjacent to the district centre. The militants did not put up any resistance, he said.

Efforts were being made to make government departments functional to resolve residents’ problems within the district, the gubernatorial spokesman added.

Col. Rasoul Mohammad, a spokesman for the 215th Maiwand Military Corps, said their troops were involved in the operation that resulted in the recapture of the district.

The offensive succeeded because the capacity of local forces had increased and the fighters had lost local support, he said. A clearing operation is still ongoing in the area, according to the official.

A Washer-based Taliban commander, who did not want to be named, said government forces were in control of the district centre only. All other areas of the district, which fell four years ago, were ruled by the militants, he claimed.

ma/mud

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