Fears of humanitarian crisis as Taliban attack three key cities
Fears were growing of a humanitarian crisis last night as fighting raged in three key Afghanistan cities.
Herat, Lashkar Gah and Kandahar were under attack from Taliban fighters.
Militia have already captured key border crossings with Iran and Pakistan. Insurgents were said to be only a few hundred yards from the governor’s office yesterday as fighting escalated in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand.
The commander of the Afghan forces claimed to have inflicted significant casualties on the militants, forcing them to retreat.
Reports on the ground emerged of militants hiding within family homes, making it extremely difficult for Afghan forces to oust them. Local politician Gul Ahmad Kamin said fighting within Kandahar was the worst seen in 20 years, with the Taliban determined to claim it as their temporary capital, which would mean up to six other provinces in the region being lost.
The EU’S special envoy for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, warned: “The war is set to get much worse.”
Former head of the British Armed Forces, General David Richards, has warned of a renewed international terrorist threat.
Humanitarian aid organisations fear major food and medical shortages.
Up to 1,000 refugees a day have crossed into the eastern Turkish province of Van, near the Iranian border, in recent days.
Refugee Mohammed Tenha said he had paid an Iranian lorry driver to take him and others across the border. “I have not eaten bread for the past four days,” he said.