Roundup: Governor vows to foil Taliban designs in southern Afghan province

The governor of Afghanistan's southern Helmand province Hayatullah Hayat has vowed to foil the designs of Taliban insurgents to overrun the troubled and poppy growing province.

"The malicious designs of enemies in Helmand province would be foiled and the enemies would face humiliating defeat here," governor Hayat told Xinhua.

He made the remarks amid ongoing heavy fighting between government forces and the Taliban militants for the control of the strategically important Sangin district over the past nearly a week.

In the latest crackdown against Taliban fighters in Sangin district, at least 18 armed insurgents, according to security officials, have been killed and several others injured over the past couple of days.

Taliban militants have exerted pressure in Sangin district since last week and so far dozens of people including militants, government forces personnel as well as civilians, according to locals, have been killed.

"Government forces would defend Sangin district at any cost to thwart Taliban vicious designs," governor Hayat said, adding reinforcement has been sent to Sangin district to beat the insurgents.

Meanwhile, local observers describe the beleaguered Sangin district as "strategically important" area and warned that the "fall of Sangin would further complicate the security challenges" in Helmand province.

"The fall of Sangin would add to the security problems in Helmand and adjoining areas," Abdul Majid Akhundzada, the deputy to Helmand Provincial Council said.

Sangin district, if falls to Taliban outfit would pave the way for the fall of Gereshk district and eventually would enable Taliban fighters to tighten the noose around provincial capital Lashkar Gah.

The poppy growing Helmand province with Lashkar Gah as its capital 555 km south of Kabul has been regarded as Taliban hotbed in the conflict-hit Afghanistan.

Qari Yusuf Ahmadi who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit, in contact with media has confirmed fighting in Sangin district and inflicting casualties on government forces stationed there. Endit