Sources from Ghazni province say that heavy clashes are ongoing between government forces and Taliban in Ghazni City – in the center of Afghanistan – 148 kilometers southwest of Kabul.
Taliban has said in a statement that the group has stormed Ghazni City from different sides.
Sources said that Kabul-Ghazni Highway has been closed to traffic following heavy fighting between government forces and Taliban.
Hamidullah Nawrozi, member of Ghazni Provincial Council, told TOLOnews that “Ghazni city will fall to the Taliban if reinforcements were not sent”.
Meanwhile, Ghazni Police Chief Farid Ahmad Mashal said the Ghazni City is under the control of government forces as he talked to TOLOnews at around 8:30am Kabul time.
The police chief said clashes are ongoing in Khogyani, Khwaja Omari and Zanakhan areas on the outskirts of Ghazni City.
Local officials have not commented on the report so far.
Recently, insecurity has increased in Ghazni province. The increasing insecurity has resulted in a decision by the Independent Election Commission to delay the upcoming parliamentary election in the province.
Source Tolonews