KABUL, 23 July 2021, (TON): At least 19 security force members, including three public uprising force members, were killed in a new spate of fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban in the past 24 hours, security sources said on Thursday. This follows a relative calm reported across the country during the first and second day of Eid.

The sources said that there are reports that the security forces have left Marjah and Garmsir districts in southern Helmand province. The Taliban are now controlling these districts.

Karim Ata, a member of Parliament from Helmand said “this is a tactical move, the security forces were relocated to Lashkargah city due to some problems in restarting operations there.”

According to the sources, there is heavy fighting taking place between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban in the Ghazi Abad district of Kunar province.

Afghan security authorities have said that security forces during this period killed “60 Taliban fighters” in various parts of the country.

Battles have been reported in Helmand, Kapisa, Kunduz, Takhar, Badakhshan, Logar, Kandahar and Jawzjan provinces.

Mir Haidar Afzali, the head of Parliament’s defense commission said “fighting occurred between the local commanders and the Taliban in the Dara-e-Farakhsha area in Nejrab district of Kapisa, the Taliban sustained heavy casualties as a result, we also had three martyrs from the local forces.”