The Taliban militants have seized all roads leading to the Azra district in central Logar province over the past three days in order to capture the district headquarters, an official said on Monday.
The Azra district governor, Hamidullah Hamid, told Pajhwok Afghan News during in an interview that fighters from other areas and neighboring Nangarhar and Paktia provinces had arrived in the district.
He said the Taliban’s plan was to capture the district and for that purpose the rebels had stopped daily use items from reaching the residents.
“We are virtually besieged,” the district chief said, adding the Taliban had initiated their attacks on some security posts, but facing stiff resistance.
The official said the prices of daily use items had gone up multifold after the Taliban blocked roads to the district. However, he did not provide further details.
Meanwhile, Abdul Wali Wakil, a member of the provincial council and as well resident of the Azra district, confirmed the district administrative head’s claims and added the Taliban were trying to capture the district over the past three days.
He added that Azra was an important district for Taliban insurgents and the government should prevent the town from falling to the rebels.
However, the governor’s spokesman, Shamshad Larawi, though acknowledging some issues in the district, said the Taliban could not capture it.
He said there were enough security forces, weapons and ammunitions and in case of need air assistance would also be provided to the security forces against the Taliban.
The Taliban also confirmed closing all roads to the Azra district, with their spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claiming the fighters had besieged the district. However, he said civilians could travel on the roads.
