Helmand’s Collapse, Probable Or Fear?
MEP: The severity and prolong of war in some districts of Helmand province, has increased fears of fall of the province into the hands of armed Taliban more than ever.
When the armed Taliban captured Nad Ali district for one day two weeks before, fighting in Helmand and caused dimensions and simultaneously drawn in seven other districts.
The districts of Nawa, Marja, Nad Ali, Garmser, Khanshin, Sangin and Musa Qala are witnessing the most severe wars and these conflicts have followed social problems.
However, Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday that reinforcements were sent to Helmand and the province would not fall into the hands of the armed Taliban, but residents in the province tell another story of conflict.
Sardar Mohammad Hamdard, head of Helmand’s civil society in an interview with Middle East Press said the war has currently reached near the town of Lashkar Gah.
According to him, the severity and prolong of war already had an impact on the psyche of the people and turned the fear of falling Helmand into the hands of Taliban more than ever.
“Apart from this, a few districts had been under the Taliban’s control since many years and now the Taliban are trying to seize more territory” Hamdard added.
Meanwhile, Omar Zwak Helmand governor’s spokesman says heavy clashes currently continues in a number of districts, including Nawa, Nad Ali and Khanshin.
According to him, security forces intensified operations and efforts are underway to control the situation.
Social problems
Intensification of fighting in a large number of districts in Helmand in addition to conflicts and killings, had also followed its important social problems.
One of these problems, is homelessness of resident of Nad Ali, Nawa, Khanshin, Sangin, Musa Qala, Marja and Garmser that have left their homes or have been killed and fled to other provinces.
Hamdard says the number of homeless families who have abandoned their homes, reaches to more than 10 thousand families.
Omar Zwak also confirms the report.
The risk of falling Helmand, reality or fear?
However, civil society activists in the province says its more likely that the Taliban fully capture the province claiming that if government forces do not add to the intensity of operations, the province will collapse.
“To avoid falling Helmand into the hands of rebels, operations must be intensified as a whole because some of the areas in the districts of Nawa and Nad Ali are currently seized by the armed Taliban”, says Hamdard.
He added that the current situation in Helmand is in such a way that there is still a risk of collapse.
But the spokesman for the governor of Helmand completely rejects the fall of the province.
Omar Zwak says security forces backed by air forces are currently in clashes with the armed Taliban in the districts of Nawa and Nad Ali which are under their control and carry out attacks on Taliban’s positions.
According to him, the security forces have managed to push back the Taliban from many parts of Nad Ali and Nawa districts and bring the territories under their control.
Lack of equipment and slow operations
Another problem in prolongation of war in Helmand is deficiency or malfunction in equipment of security forces were believed.
Helmand’s chief of civil society also confirms this, saying that the lack of equipment, roadside mines on roads and several areas are other factors that are slowing down the operation and security forces.
The report comes as the armed Taliban have claimed to soon capture the town of Lashkar Gah and have seized significant parts of Nad Ali and Nawa districts.
