Afghan forces retreat from Helmand

Afghan troops have retreated from two districts in the southern province of Helmand, officials said yesterday, a move which highlights the challenge from Taliban fighters in the opium-producing region.

"The Afghan army retreated from two army bases in Musa Qala and one base from Nawzad district" on Saturday, provincial governor Khan Rahimi told AFP, leaving no troops anywhere in those districts.

He said the soldiers had moved to other parts of Helmand such as the heavily-contested districts of Lashkar Gah and Sangin, adding: "We have no concerns regarding this step but we have plans to ensure security in other vulnerable areas."

But the decision was criticised by Abdul Majeed Akhundzada, deputy chief of the provincial council.

"Retreating from Musa Qala looks to me like ignoring the deaths of Afghan security forces and the civilians," Akhundzada said.

Meanwhile, at least 13 people, including nine civilians, were killed yesterday in a suicide bombing carried out by Taliban insurgents against the Afghan police in an area 60 kilometres northwest of Kabul, authorities said.

"There are 13 casualties, nine civilians and four policeman, as well as 19 injured, 17 of whom are civilians," Parwan police chief province Mohammed Zaman Mamozai said.

Helmand has seen some of the fiercest battles of the Taliban's battle against local and foreign forces that began in 2001. The militants have intensified their campaign in the province since the Nato combat mission in the war-torn country officially ended in 2014.