Taliban fighters during “Operation al-Khandagh”
On November 15, the Taliban launched a surprise attack on a key center of the Afghan National Police (ANP) in the district of Pusht Rod in the western province of Farah as a part of its spring offensive, codenamed “Operation al-Khandagh.”
“The center was completely overrun, killing 35 policemen including commander Khaksar and commander Jabbar, arresting 2 others and destroying a tank and 5 ranger pickups,” a press release by the Taliban news agency, Voice of Jihad, reads.
Members of Farah provincial council confirmed to the Afghan TOLO News TV that 40 personnel of the ANP were killed in an attack by the Taliban. The local officials also revealed that 60 other policemen have surrendered to the Afghan group.
Last May, Afghan government forces, backed by the NATO, repelled a large-scale attack of the Taliban on the capital of Farah. However, the government has not done much to counter the growing influence of the Afghan group in the province, since then.
