Global News

LASHKARGAH — Afghan security forces, backed by NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, have crippled the Taliban leadership in Helmand Province to the point where the militants are unable to fight, local authorities say.

In only five months, the Taliban have lost two consecutive Helmand shadow governors to air strikes.

Mullah Sharafuddin died April 12 in Bahramcha village, Disho District, of wounds sustained during an air strike.

“Resolute Support Mission’s air forces attacked the Taliban’s appointed governor and his five friends in Musa Qala,” Muhammad Zaman Hamdard, a spokesman for Helmand Police, told Salaam Times.

The air strike took place April 1, according to a statement from the provincial press office.

Mullah Abdul Manan Mansori, Sharafuddin’s predecessor, was killed last December 1 in an air strike by international forces in Helmand.

Both are just a few of the local Taliban officials who have been killed by Afghan and coalition forces over the past few months.

“The Taliban’s leadership has been hit hundreds of times in air operations, and almost 50 key Taliban commanders have been killed in the air strikes,” Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the Helmand governor, told Salaam Times.

Other Taliban officials killed include Mullah Tawab, the Taliban’s intelligence chief for Helmand; Rashid, a spokesman for the Taliban’s provincial shadow governor; Jahadyar, the Taliban intelligence chief for Sangin District; and five senior Taliban authorities in charge of Nawa District.

“The Taliban’s leadership is not as organised as it was in the past,” Zwak said.

“Although the Taliban try to threaten some areas or capture them, the Afghan security forces block their supply routes,” he added. “Their leadership has also been destroyed.”

Source:
http://afghanistan.asia-news.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_st/features/2019/04/17/feature-01