Roundup: Afghan conflict gets momentum since change in Taliban leadership

Multiple evidence has unveiled that the turmoil in Afghanistan and conflict have gotten impetus since Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada had taken Taliban's leadership as the supreme leader on May 25.

"Kidnapping innocent passengers and barbaric killing over a dozen of them is clear indication of increase in violence committed by Taliban insurgents," a Kabul resident Farakh Shah told Xinhua.

A group of armed Taliban militants intercepted three passenger buses and after kidnapping 185 travelers, according to police.

"Like his predecessors, Haibatullah is in favor of war and would continue violent insurgency," another Afghan Mahmoud Khan told Xinhua.

Abducting passengers and killing some of them in the northern Kunduz province is taking place amid ongoing fierce battle between government forces and Taliban militants in the southern Helmand province that has left more than 200 of militants and security personnel dead or injured over the past three days.

"A total of 118 Taliban rebels have been killed, 73 injured and 11 others made captive over the past three days," Hayat told reporters in a press conference on Tuesday.

Fierce fighting has been going on in Nahr-e-Saraj, Nad Ali and Gereshk districts, the official admitted, saying reinforcements would soon be deployed in sensitive areas to dislodge militants.

The governor, however, didn't mention the number of casualties the security forces suffered.

Meantime, an official on the condition of anonymity said that nearly 90 security personnel had been killed and injured elsewhere in Helmand province since Sunday.

Taliban outfit has confirmed the clash in Helmand province and in online statement claimed inflicting casualties on government forces in parts of the restive province.

Fighting between security forces and Taliban militants has also claimed over a dozen lives in the northern Faryab and Baghlan province over the past 24 hours.

Security forces captured a teenage would-be suicide bomber in Baghlan province; while bicycle bomb killed one person and injured 11 others in the eastern Ghazni province on Tuesday.

Afghans, generally believe that the Taliban under Haibatullah Akhundzada would intensify militancy as the new leader during his service as deputy to his predecessor Mullah Akhtar Mansoor had never advocated for peace talks with government. Endit