Govt forces in control of embattled Afghan city: Officials

KABUL: Security forces were in regulate of the jap Afghan city of Ghazni on Saturday, officers mentioned, more than a day after Taliban fighters launched a big onslaught on the provincial capital, as reinforcements continued a clearance operation focused on the militants.
Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish mentioned contemporary reinforcements had arrived within the area and were combating Taliban fighters north of Ghazni, and that the insurgents were in no place to take regulate of town.

"The situation is fully under control. The city is not going to fall," Danish instructed a press convention, after confusion fastened over Ghazni's destiny following hours of reliable silence.

A spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan additionally described the fight for town as a clearance operation, with sporadic clashes between safety forces and insurgents punctuating relative calm.

"The fact remains that the Taliban are unable to seize terrain and unable to match the Afghan security forces or our enablement, retreating once directly and decisively engaged," Lt. Col. Martin O'Donnell instructed AFP.

Insurgents entered Ghazni from a number of instructions past due Thursday night, attacking media places of work and damaging a telecommunications tower, successfully shutting off mobile service to town as of Friday afternoon — making details about the fight difficult to verify.

An MP from Ghazni suggested caution following Danish's press convention, pronouncing heavy clashes continued to rage between the two facets.

"Intense fighting is still ongoing in Ghazni city. The prison is under attack from several directions, they are trying to free the prisoners," mentioned Nafisa Azimi through telephone from Kabul.

"Fear is spreading in Ghazni as the day ends, the Taliban might intensify their attack as it gets dark."

Danish mentioned a minimum of 25 safety forces had died within the combating along with 150 Taliban fighters. At least one media employee from an area broadcaster used to be additionally killed.

Earlier Saturday, the Taliban claimed victory within the fight for the embattled city, pronouncing their forces were in regulate of Ghazni after routing Afghan troops.

"Last night, our mujahideen have completely conquered a battalion in Ghazni, seizing weapons and ammunitions and four pickup trucks," mentioned Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a message to newshounds.

"Our mujahideen are protecting the city of Ghazni."

The Taliban incessantly exaggerate their battlefield gains and downplay losses incurred all through clashes.

Ghazni — lower than two hours through road from Kabul — has been beneath expanding threat from massing Taliban fighters for months, with reports suggesting insurgents had already infiltrated town.

Political analyst Atta Noori mentioned the loss of reliable reaction to the mounting risk would most probably dent already fraying public self belief in Kabul's ability to confront the Taliban.

"The government might be in control of the city but it always remains under threat," mentioned Noori.

The attack used to be the most recent try through the Taliban to grasp an urban centre and springs as power mounts on the militant motion to enter peace talks with the government to finish the nearly 17-year-old warfare.

It used to be additionally the largest tactical operation through the Taliban since an unprecedented ceasefire in June brought combating between safety forces and the Taliban to a brief halt, giving war-weary Afghans some welcome aid from the bloodshed.