Taliban claims control of district in Kandahar

Map detailing Taliban controlled or contested districts. Click colored district for information. Based on an analysis by The Long War Journal, 31 of Afghanistan’s 398 districts are under Taliban control, and another 37 districts are contested. Map created by Bill Roggio, Caleb Weiss, and Patrick Megahan.

As the Taliban continues to press its offensive in northern Afghanistan, the jihadist group remains active in the south as well. Today, the Taliban claimed it took control of the district of Ghorak in the northwestern part of Kandahar province. From Voice of Jihad, the Taliban’s official propaganda outlet:

Ghorak district center and surrounding check posts which have been under Mujahideen attacks for the past few days were finally completely by Mujahideen overnight.

The final attack which took place last night resulted in Mujahideen overrunning the district administration center, police HQ building and a nearby large check post, killing a total of 20 gunmen and seizing 3 vehicles, an APC, 23 various type weapons and other equipment.

This comes a few days after 21 gunmen from the same defensive belt check posts surrendered, 2 check posts were overrun and 12 commando troopers killed while trying to reinforce the center on Friday.

The Taliban’s claim has not been confirmed by the Afghan press, but the group has accurately reported on districts it has overrun in the past.

The Taliban control or contest a belt of districts in the south spanning from Farah to Helmand, Uruzgan, and now Kandahar. The Taliban may use its presence in this belt to threaten Lashkar Gah, the provincial capital of Helmand, or Kandahar city. The loss of either city would be a major blow to the Afghan government.

Afghan security forces are stretched thin as they attempt to fight the Taliban on multiple fronts. If the security situation continues to deteriorate in the north, the Afghan military may be forces to cede ground in the south.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

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7 Comments

  • mike merlo says:

    more misleading propaganda regarding the Narco Terrorist Criminal Organization masquerading as some kind of Islamic benevolence society

  • Desmond Apollus says:

    Who are the taliban and the afghanis?i think they are all Muslims.It means Muslims against Muslim.

  • Arjuna says:

    Another one’s gone, and we do nothing. Negotiating with the Taliban is surrendering to Pakistan. Rewarding bad behavior and setting another terrible precedent. Why do we not pay ransoms if we talk (capitulate) to baby-killers and child-rapists? NYT is reporting on this theme (Taliban success denied by US), saying the UN disputes the US Army’s rosy view of Afghan stability and resiliency. Kind of reminds me of exactly the same debate bw DIA and DoD over IS. We are getting sugar-coated lies from this Administration. Laddy is showing them who their daddy is!

  • Mark Rowney says:

    It is rubbish. These drugs have come as a result of the American Occupation. Taliban prior to the invasion persecuted those growing drugs severely. It is not suggested America is involved in the drugs but their presence assists those that wish to profit from the drugs. It is an indirect consequence of the protection of the occupation.

  • Rasputin says:

    Mike,
    Maybe the Taliban are winning as the Taliban don’t tolerate their kids being raped by government officials?

    Just a thought.

  • AZ1stBn3rdBn says:

    You may want to post these maps of the United States……found on Col Allen West’s web site.

    http://www.allenbwest.com/2015/10/maps-of-islamic-activity-mosques-and-refugees-paint-a-disturbing-picture/

    Thanks for keeping us up-to-date on what is “still” going on.

  • mike merlo says:

    @ Rasputin

    oh yeah right the Taliban don’t rape kids. If you recollect in one of Mullah Omars ‘missives’ to the Rank & File he specifically warned them against molesting & raping children. The Afghan Taliban is an ongoing Criminal Enterprise whose Rank & File along with the leadership is nothing but a collection of dope fiends & pederast’s

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