Afghan gov't dismisses fall of district to Taliban

The Afghan government on Wednesday dismissed the report on the fall of Sangin district to the Taliban militants as groundless.

"Except Bagran no other district is controlled by the armed oppositions," acting Defense Minister Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai told reporters at a press conference here.

He was responding to media reports suggesting the fall of Sangin district to the Taliban militants.

However, he admitted that the "enemies have mounted pressure on security forces and locals in Sangin, Musa Qala, Nawzad, Khanshin and other parts of Helmand province."

Flanked by Interior Minister Noorul Haq Olumi, Stanikzai also confirmed that foreign militants in the ranks of Lashkar-e-Tayeba, al-Qaida and the so-called Islamic State or Daesh from Pakistan, Chechen and other countries have been fighting alongside Taliban in Helmand province.

Special Forces have arrived in Sangin, the acting defense minister added.

Without commenting on the number of security forces casualties, the acting defense minister said that "advancement and retreat is natural in war."

Also Addressing the press conference, Interior Minister Noorul Haq Olumi assured that both the units of police and army have been fighting in harmony in Helmand province to foil the enemies' malicious attempts. Endit