This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/09/world/asia/taliban-tirin-kot-afghanistan-oruzgan.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Taliban Close to Overtaking Afghan Provincial Capital, Officials Say Taliban Close to Overtaking Afghan Provincial Capital, Officials Say
(35 minutes later)
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Taliban insurgents on Thursday were on the verge of overrunning the southern city of Tirin Kot, the capital of Oruzgan Province, Afghan officials and local elders said.KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Taliban insurgents on Thursday were on the verge of overrunning the southern city of Tirin Kot, the capital of Oruzgan Province, Afghan officials and local elders said.
Dost Mohammad Nayab, a spokesman for the governor of Oruzgan, said that all security posts around the city had been overrun by the Taliban and that the insurgents had started firing on the police headquarters and the governor’s compound.Dost Mohammad Nayab, a spokesman for the governor of Oruzgan, said that all security posts around the city had been overrun by the Taliban and that the insurgents had started firing on the police headquarters and the governor’s compound.
“The security forces are engaged with the Taliban inside the city, and fighting is ongoing,” Mr. Nayab said.“The security forces are engaged with the Taliban inside the city, and fighting is ongoing,” Mr. Nayab said.
Marred by internal police chaos, Tirin Kot had long remained a vulnerable spot after its controversial police chief, Gen. Matiullah Khan, was assassinated in Kabul last year. General Khan had risen to power with generous support from NATO military contracts and political backing from the former president, Hamid Karzai, and while he kept the Taliban at bay, he was also accused of tribal favoritism and of using force against political rivals, which ultimately kept Oruzgan fragile. Marred by internal police chaos, Tirin Kot had long remained a vulnerable spot after its controversial police chief, Gen. Matiullah Khan, was assassinated in Kabul last year. General Khan had risen to power with generous support from NATO military contracts and political backing from the former president, Hamid Karzai, and although he kept the Taliban at bay, he was also accused of tribal favoritism and of using force against political rivals, which ultimately kept Oruzgan fragile.
As Afghan forces rallied resources to counter the Taliban threat to the capital of neighboring Helmand Province, as well as the northern city of Kunduz, which the insurgents briefly overran last year, officials and elders warned that Tirin Kot was besieged.As Afghan forces rallied resources to counter the Taliban threat to the capital of neighboring Helmand Province, as well as the northern city of Kunduz, which the insurgents briefly overran last year, officials and elders warned that Tirin Kot was besieged.
Mr. Nayab said that 200 Afghan commandos arrived late Wednesday and were trying to stop the Taliban advance, but he bemoaned the lack of air support from NATO.Mr. Nayab said that 200 Afghan commandos arrived late Wednesday and were trying to stop the Taliban advance, but he bemoaned the lack of air support from NATO.
“If there is no reinforcement in a few hours, the Taliban may enter the governor’s house,” he said.“If there is no reinforcement in a few hours, the Taliban may enter the governor’s house,” he said.
Abdul Karim Khadimzai, who oversees the provincial council in Oruzgan, said the city was under lockdown, with only security forces visible on the streets. The police chief and other officials had sought shelter at the airport, he said. Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said special forces from an elite task force based in neighboring Kandahar Province had reached Tirin Kot on Thursday morning. Additionally, Gen. Abdul Raziq, the powerful police chief of Kandahar Province, was on his way to help.
Abdul Karim Khadimzai, who oversees the provincial council in Oruzgan, said the city was under lockdown, with only security forces visible on the streets. He said that the police chief and other officials had sought shelter at the airport, but the chief, Gen. Wais Samimi, said that he was still at the police headquarters.
“The Taliban warned the citizens to stay indoors, and they are going to enter the city,” Mr. Khadimzai said.“The Taliban warned the citizens to stay indoors, and they are going to enter the city,” Mr. Khadimzai said.
A Taliban commander in Oruzgan, Mullah Hameedi, said they had taken control of the central prison there, only to find that the officials had already evacuated the inmates to the airport. A Taliban commander in Oruzgan, Mullah Hameedi, claimed they had taken control of the central prison there, only to find that the officials had already evacuated the inmates to the airport. But Mr. Sediqqi rejected that claim, saying that a Taliban assault on the prison Wednesday night was repelled.