Kabul says Taliban attack to take Ghazni has been beaten back
Afghan officials said security forces were in control of the eastern city of Ghazni yesterday after Taliban fighters launched a major attack on the provincial capital.
Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said reinforcements had arrived in the area and were fighting Taliban forces north of Ghazni. He said the insurgents were in no position to take control of the city.
“The situation is fully under control. The city is not going to fall,” Mr Danish said after hours of silence and confusion over the fate of the city.
A spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan described the fight for Ghazni as a clearance operation, with sporadic clashes between security forces and insurgents between relative calm.
“The fact remains that the Taliban are unable to seize terrain and unable to match the Afghan security forces or our enablement, retreating once directly and decisively engaged,” Lt Col Martin O’Donnell said.
Insurgents entered Ghazni from several directions on Thursday night. They attacked media offices and damaged a telecommunications tower, shutting off mobile service to the city on Friday, making information about the fight difficult to verify.
A politician from Ghazni urged caution after Mr Danish’s comments, saying heavy clashes continued.
“Intense fighting is still going on in Ghazni city,” Nafisa Azimi said. “The prison is under attack from several directions, they are trying to free the prisoners.
“The fear is spreading in Ghazni as the day ends, the Taliban might intensify their attack as it gets dark.”
Mr Danish said at least 25 troops died in the fighting, along with 150 Taliban fighters. At least one employee of a local broadcaster was also killed.
Earlier yesterday the Taliban claimed victory in the fight for the city, saying their forces had routed Afghan troops. “Last night, our mujahideen completely conquered a battalion in Ghazni, seizing weapons and ammunitions and four pickup trucks,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. “Our mujahideen are protecting the city of Ghazni.”
Ghazni, less than two hours by road from Kabul, has been under increasing danger from massing Taliban fighters for months with reports suggesting the militants had already infiltrated the city.
The attack was the latest attempt by the Taliban to seize an urban centre and came as pressure mounts on them to enter talks with the government to end the 17-year war.