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Afghan government forces battle Taliban for control of Sangin in Helmand province Afghan government forces battle Taliban for control of Sangin in Helmand province
(1 day later)
Taliban gunmen and government forces are battling for control of a strategic district in the southern province of Helmand after it was overrun by Taliban insurgents, delivering a serious blow to government forces. Taliban gunmen and government forces are battling for control of a strategic district in the southern province of Helmand after it was overrun by Taliban insurgents, delivering a serious blow to government forces. 
Mohammad Jan Rasulyar, Helmand’s deputy governor, said insurgents took control of Sangin district on Sunday. Only Afghan army facilities in the district had not been taken by the insurgents, he said. Casualties among Afghan security forces were high, he added, though he gave no figures. Mohammad Jan Rasulyar, Helmand’s deputy governor, said insurgents took control of Sangin district on Sunday. Only Afghan army facilities in the district had not been taken by the insurgents, he said. Casualties among Afghan security forces were high, he added, though he gave no figures. 
Afghan army commandos and special forces had arrived in Sangin to push a counter-offensive, the defence ministry spokesman, Dawlat Waziri, said. He told reporters the Afghan air force had conducted 160 combat and transport flights over Sangin in the past 48 hours. Afghan army commandos and special forces had arrived in Sangin to push a counter-offensive, the defence ministry spokesman, Dawlat Waziri, said. He told reporters the Afghan air force had conducted 160 combat and transport flights over Sangin in the past 48 hours. 
Among the insurgent forces in Helmand, “three out of 10 are foreign fighters,” he said, adding that they included Pakistanis, Chechens, Uzbeks, Arabs and Chinese Uighurs. “The presence of the foreigners in this imposed war complicates the sitaution in Helmand,” he said, echoing the government line that the war is run by a Taliban leadership believed to be based in Pakistan with official protection. Among the insurgent forces in Helmand, “three out of 10 are foreign fighters,” he said, adding that they included Pakistanis, Chechens, Uzbeks, Arabs and Chinese Uighurs. “The presence of the foreigners in this imposed war complicates the sitaution in Helmand,” he said, echoing the government line that the war is run by a Taliban leadership believed to be based in Pakistan with official protection. 
Helmand is an important Taliban base as it produces most of the world’s opium, a crop that helps fund the insurgency. Helmand is an important Taliban base as it produces most of the world’s opium, a crop that helps fund the insurgency. 
Sangin district has bounced in and out of Taliban control for some years, and fighting there has produced high casualties among both Afghan and international forces. British troops in particular saw intensive fighting there at the height of the war in 2006 and 2007. Sangin district has bounced in and out of Taliban control for some years, and fighting there has produced high casualties among both Afghan and international forces. British troops in particular saw intensive fighting there at the height of the war in 2006 and 2007. 
Deputy governor Rasulyar took the unusual step of using his Facebook page on Sunday to warn President Ashraf Ghani that the entire province of Helmand was in danger of falling to Taliban insurgents if central authorities failed to send help. Deputy governor Rasulyar took the unusual step of using his Facebook page on Sunday to warn President Ashraf Ghani that the entire province of Helmand was in danger of falling to Taliban insurgents if central authorities failed to send help. 
In Helmand, more than 90 members of the Afghan security forces died fighting in the two days before his Facebook plea, with hundreds killed in the past six months, he said in his open letter to Ghani. In Helmand, more than 90 members of the Afghan security forces died fighting in the two days before his Facebook plea, with hundreds killed in the past six months, he said in his open letter to Ghani. 
The head of Helmand’s provincial council, Muhammad Kareem Atal, said that 28 members of the Afghan security forces – usually a reference to army and police who also fight on the front lines across the country – were killed fighting on Sunday. Another 15 were critically wounded, he said. The head of Helmand’s provincial council, Muhammad Kareem Atal, said that 28 members of the Afghan security forces – usually a reference to army and police who also fight on the front lines across the country – were killed fighting on Sunday. Another 15 were critically wounded, he said. 
“Around 65 percent of Helmand is now under Taliban control,” Atal said. “In every district either we are stepping back or we are handing territory over to Taliban, but still, until now, no serious action has been taken,” he said, echoing Mr Rasulyar’s plea to the central authorities for help. “Around 65 percent of Helmand is now under Taliban control,” Atal said. “In every district either we are stepping back or we are handing territory over to Taliban, but still, until now, no serious action has been taken,” he said, echoing Mr Rasulyar’s plea to the central authorities for help. 
Atal said more than 2,000 members of the security forces had been killed fighting in Helmand in 2015. Atal said more than 2,000 members of the security forces had been killed fighting in Helmand in 2015. 
The Taliban insurgency has spread across the country this year, following the withdrawal of international combat forces at the end of 2014. This has stretched government resources thin, as the traditional winter lull in fighting has so far failed to take place in the warmer, southern provinces.The Taliban insurgency has spread across the country this year, following the withdrawal of international combat forces at the end of 2014. This has stretched government resources thin, as the traditional winter lull in fighting has so far failed to take place in the warmer, southern provinces.
The number of British soldiers who have died in Afghanistan since 2001 (of around 3,000 total coalition deaths). The vast majority of deaths have been low-rank soldiers killed on foot while out patrolling. 226 of those were caused by explosives and 116 were shot. Accidents such as vehicle crashes have accounted for 34 of the total deaths, with 21 caused by other causes including friendly fire and suicide.
The size of the Helmand province – roughly half the area of England. The region is a mixture of mountains, farmland and desert, with three main groups (tribal warlords, Taliban leaders and drug traffickers) controlling the area prior to the arrival of Western troops.
Percentage of the world’s non-pharmaceutical-grade opium produced in Afghanistan. Helmand has long been the centre of this production and the UK army was sent to the province with the aim of stopping this illegal trade. Between 2002 and 2013 the amount of land given over to opium production rose from just under 75,000 hectares to 209,000 hectares – more than enough to exceed global demand.
The approximate number of personnel first sent to the region. The majority of these were engineers and support troops meant to help with the reconstruction of the region, with only roughly a quarter of the initial deployment actual combat infantry.
The peak number of British troops in the region in 2011. Five thousand troops will remain in the war zone until December at Camp Bastion under US command, with 57,000 more Isaf troops (the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force created in 2001) remaining in the country. The majority of these are American and plans for their departure are still unconfirmed.
The number of vehicles and major pieces of equipment in the province waiting to be redeployed. All of these must be cleaned and fitted for transport with A 25-tonne Warrior armoured vehicle taking roughly three days for a team of three working 8 hours a day to get ready for transport. So far, 1578 vehicles and items have been redeployed from the front line for future operations. Remaining kit will be auctioned off.
Also today, six American soldiers were killed in a suicide attack claimed by the Taliban near the US-run Bagram airfield in Afghanistan. Another three Nato troops were wounded in the attack, the largest attack on foreign troops in Afghanistan since August, according to Nato. Also today, six American soldiers were killed in a suicide attack claimed by the Taliban near the US-run Bagram airfield in Afghanistan. Another three Nato troops were wounded in the attack, the largest attack on foreign troops in Afghanistan since August, according to Nato. 
It was the first major attack on a Nato military convoy since 22 August, when three American contractors were killed in a suicide attack on their convoy in Kabul. On 7 and 8 August, Kabul was the scene of three insurgent attacks within 24 hours that left at least 35 people dead. It was the first major attack on a Nato military convoy since 22 August, when three American contractors were killed in a suicide attack on their convoy in Kabul. On 7 and 8 August, Kabul was the scene of three insurgent attacks within 24 hours that left at least 35 people dead.