The Taliban says it briefly took control of Qala-e-Naw in Badghis, the province is crucial as it borders Turkmenistan. They have even taken control over central prisons setting all the inmates free.

Taliban retakes capital of northwest Afghan province of Badghis

At least 50 members of the Afghan security forces have surrendered to the Taliban in a fight for control of Afghanistan's western province of Badghis, local officials said.

Some 100 Afghan personnel who are part of the interior ministry's border police attempted to flee their posts into neighbouring Turkmenistan on Saturday, but they were prevented from entering that country, Badghis provincial council chairman Abdul Aziz Bik said on Sunday.

About 50 Afghan border police surrendered, while the remaining 50 continued fighting in the district of Bala Murghab, he said. Bala Murghab is the province's most populous district.

"These soldiers have been fighting against the Taliban for years and if they give up, they will be killed by Taliban," Bik said.

The district was at risk of falling to the Taliban unless Afghan forces receive air and ground reinforcements, Badghis provincial council member Abdullah Afzali said on Saturday.

Provincial councils are elected bodies that sometimes have closer connections to local residents than government officials have.

The Taliban said 90 border police had surrendered to the militant group. It posted photos on Twitter of a line-up of dozens of men who the Taliban said were captured border police, and it added that it had killed many others.

It was not clear how many Afghan and Taliban forces have been killed or wounded in the battle for the district.

Jamshid Shahabi, a spokesman for Badghis' governor, said the Taliban had inflated its estimate of captured forces.

Fighting in the Bala Murghab district has intensified in recent months. The Taliban killed 20 Afghan soldiers and captured 20 less than a week ago.

The Taliban controls or contests nearly half of Afghanistan, the most since US-led forces ousted it from power in 2001, according to the US&nbsp;Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. The militant group conducts frequent attacks on Afghan security posts.

Afghanistan's annual increase in violence typically happens in spring. Taliban and US&nbsp;officials finished the latest round of peace talks on Tuesday, with both sides citing progress.

A spokesman for Afghanistan's ministry of defence could not be reached.

The Taliban, ousted in 2001, say they are fighting to expel foreign troops, topple the Western-backed Afghan government and restore its version of Islamic law.

Some 17,000 foreign troops are based in Afghanistan as part of a US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces.

At least 50 members of the Afghan security forces have surrendered to the Taliban in a fight for control of Afghanistan's western province of Badghis, local officials said.

At least 50 members of the Afghan security forces have surrendered to the Taliban in a fight for control of Afghanistan's western province of Badghis, local officials said. Some 100 Afghan personnel who are part of the interior ministry's border police attempted to flee their posts into neighbouring Turkmenistan on Saturday, but they were prevented from entering that country, Badghis provincial council chairman Abdul Aziz Bik said on Sunday. About 50 Afghan border police surrendered, while the remaining 50 continued fighting in the district of Bala Murghab, he said. Bala Murghab is the province's most populous district. "These soldiers have been fighting against the Taliban for years and if they give up, they will be killed by Taliban," Bik said. The district was at risk of falling to the Taliban unless Afghan forces receive air and ground reinforcements, Badghis provincial council member Abdullah Afzali said on Saturday. Provincial councils are elected bodies that sometimes have closer connections to local residents than government officials have. The Taliban said 90 border police had surrendered to the militant group. It posted photos on Twitter of a line-up of dozens of men who the Taliban said were captured border police, and it added that it had killed many others. It was not clear how many Afghan and Taliban forces have been killed or wounded in the battle for the district. Jamshid Shahabi, a spokesman for Badghis' governor, said the Taliban had inflated its estimate of captured forces. Fighting in the Bala Murghab district has intensified in recent months. The Taliban killed 20 Afghan soldiers and captured 20 less than a week ago. The Taliban controls or contests nearly half of Afghanistan, the most since US-led forces ousted it from power in 2001, according to the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. The militant group conducts frequent attacks on Afghan security posts. Afghanistan's annual increase in violence typically happens in spring. Taliban and US officials finished the latest round of peace talks on Tuesday, with both sides citing progress. A spokesman for Afghanistan's ministry of defence could not be reached. The Taliban, ousted in 2001, say they are fighting to expel foreign troops, topple the Western-backed Afghan government and restore its version of Islamic law. Some 17,000 foreign troops are based in Afghanistan as part of a US-led NATO mission to train, assist and advise Afghan forces.

Taliban captures 50 border police as fighting intensifies in western Afghanistan

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-threaten-oil-fields-in-northern-afghanistan-188295">Taliban insurgents have stormed</a> security posts in west Afghanistan, killing 21 police and pro-government militia members, officials said on Monday, the latest in a surge of attacks that has cast doubt on tentative steps towards talks.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-kill-21-afghan-security-forces-threaten-city-official-188002">The Taliban attacked the checkpoints </a>in two different parts of Badghis province, which is on the border with Turkmenistan, late on Sunday, provincial officials said.

Abdul Aziz Bek, head of the Badghis provincial council, said 14 policemen and seven members of pro-government militias were killed, while nine were injured.

A second government official, Jamshid Shahabi, a spokesman for the Badghis provincial governor, said more than 15 Taliban militants were killed and 10 wounded in the clashes.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, among the most deadly in the province in many months.

Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said in a statement they killed 34 members of the security forces and pro-government militias and seized many weapons and ammunition.

Leaders of the hardline Islamist group and the US&nbsp;officials are scheduled to meet this month to discuss the withdrawal of foreign forces and a possible ceasefire.

Officials from the warring sides have met at least three times in recent months to try to agree on a way to end the 17-year war. But in the meantime, both sides are keeping up their attacks.

The Taliban say they are fighting to topple the Western-backed government and restore strict Islamic law after their ouster in 2001.

The United States and its allies say they want to stop Afghanistan from becoming a haven for international Islamist militants plotting attacks in the West. 
&nbsp;

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, among the most deadly in the province in many months.

Taliban insurgents have stormed security posts in west Afghanistan, killing 21 police and pro-government militia members, officials said on Monday, the latest in a surge of attacks that has cast doubt on tentative steps towards talks. The Taliban attacked the checkpoints in two different parts of Badghis province, which is on the border with Turkmenistan, late on Sunday, provincial officials said. Abdul Aziz Bek, head of the Badghis provincial council, said 14 policemen and seven members of pro-government militias were killed, while nine were injured. A second government official, Jamshid Shahabi, a spokesman for the Badghis provincial governor, said more than 15 Taliban militants were killed and 10 wounded in the clashes. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks, among the most deadly in the province in many months. Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said in a statement they killed 34 members of the security forces and pro-government militias and seized many weapons and ammunition. Leaders of the hardline Islamist group and the US officials are scheduled to meet this month to discuss the withdrawal of foreign forces and a possible ceasefire. Officials from the warring sides have met at least three times in recent months to try to agree on a way to end the 17-year war. But in the meantime, both sides are keeping up their attacks. The Taliban say they are fighting to topple the Western-backed government and restore strict Islamic law after their ouster in 2001. The United States and its allies say they want to stop Afghanistan from becoming a haven for international Islamist militants plotting attacks in the West.

Taliban storm security posts in west Afghanistan, kill 21

Parts of Afghanistan provinces are facing a serious threat of severe drought that could affect the lives of almost one million people living in the area said a recent statement released by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund.

The statement reads, "the extremely dry winter has affected 22 provinces across Afghanistan and now threatens to negatively impact the lives of one million people, with an additional two million who could feel its effects over the coming months".

According to the statement 23-30 per cent of water sources have gone dry. Food insecurity and reduced access to safe water are beginning to take their toll in the 10 worst affected provinces, where 20 to 30 percent of water sources are reportedly dry. The impact on children could be devastating, as these areas have pre-existing high rates of malnutrition. Without adequate nutritious food and safe water for drinking, as well as for hygiene and sanitation, children’s health will only worsen.&nbsp;

Afghanistan reportedly received lowest snowfall and rain in years this winter.

According to reports, at least 20 to 34 provinces are already suffering severely and the situation is expected to worsen even further.

Hashamnt Khan Bahaduri spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority in Kabul was quoted by Reuters saying that "this year drought has reached a level that we will have to announce an emergency in several parts of the country."

He further informed that the country might need to import or receive donations to overcome food shortages.

Afghanistan has been experiencing frequent seasons in recent decades.&nbsp;

Inadequate rains and snowfall during 2008 to 2010 in parts of Afghanistan caused significant failure of the rain-fed crops in the six provinces: Herat, Jawzjan, Balkh, Badghis, Faryab and Sar-e-Pul. The situation affected the most vulnerable populations and their access to food and water, reducing communities' health and nutrition status.&nbsp;

However, following the heavy snow in 2012 long drought ended.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The extremely dry winter has affected 22 provinces across Afghanistan and now threatens to negatively impact the lives of one million people, with an additional two million who could feel its effects over the coming months

Parts of Afghanistan provinces are facing a serious threat of severe drought that could affect the lives of almost one million people living in the area said a recent statement released by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. The statement reads, "the extremely dry winter has affected 22 provinces across Afghanistan and now threatens to negatively impact the lives of one million people, with an additional two million who could feel its effects over the coming months". According to the statement 23-30 per cent of water sources have gone dry. Food insecurity and reduced access to safe water are beginning to take their toll in the 10 worst affected provinces, where 20 to 30 percent of water sources are reportedly dry. The impact on children could be devastating, as these areas have pre-existing high rates of malnutrition. Without adequate nutritious food and safe water for drinking, as well as for hygiene and sanitation, children’s health will only worsen. Afghanistan reportedly received lowest snowfall and rain in years this winter. According to reports, at least 20 to 34 provinces are already suffering severely and the situation is expected to worsen even further. Hashamnt Khan Bahaduri spokesperson for the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority in Kabul was quoted by Reuters saying that "this year drought has reached a level that we will have to announce an emergency in several parts of the country." He further informed that the country might need to import or receive donations to overcome food shortages. Afghanistan has been experiencing frequent seasons in recent decades. Inadequate rains and snowfall during 2008 to 2010 in parts of Afghanistan caused significant failure of the rain-fed crops in the six provinces: Herat, Jawzjan, Balkh, Badghis, Faryab and Sar-e-Pul. The situation affected the most vulnerable populations and their access to food and water, reducing communities' health and nutrition status. However, following the heavy snow in 2012 long drought ended. (With inputs from Reuters)

One million lives at stake as Afghanistan is hit by drought

A suicide bomber killed at least 18 people in Afghanistan on Saturday and fighting between militants and security forces left at least 36 people dead on the first day of Islam&#39;s holy Month of Ramzan.&nbsp;

&quot;A suicide car bomb in Khost province has killed 18 people and wounded six others, including two children,&quot; ministry spokesman Najib Danish said on Twitter.

In the north-western province of Badghis, militants attacked security forces in Qadis district, sparking fighting that killed 22 insurgents, six security forces personnel, and eight civilians, said Zahir Bahand a spokesman for the provincial governor.

The fighting also left 33 militants and 17 civilians wounded, he said.

The Western-backed Afghan government is battling both Taliban and Islamic State militants around the country.&nbsp;

Taliban forces have increased their attacks in the weeks before Ramzan, with a string of strikes in Kandahar, Paktia, and Helmand, among other provinces.

Muslims around the world typically mark Ramzanwith fasting, prayers, and other observances, although the holy month can begin on different days in different countries.&nbsp;

 
(Reuters)

&nbsp;

Taliban forces have increased their attacks in the weeks before Ramzan, with a string of strikes in Kandahar, Paktia, and Helmand, among other provinces

A suicide bomber killed at least 18 people in Afghanistan on Saturday and fighting between militants and security forces left at least 36 people dead on the first day of Islam's holy Month of Ramzan. "A suicide car bomb in Khost province has killed 18 people and wounded six others, including two children," ministry spokesman Najib Danish said on Twitter. In the north-western province of Badghis, militants attacked security forces in Qadis district, sparking fighting that killed 22 insurgents, six security forces personnel, and eight civilians, said Zahir Bahand a spokesman for the provincial governor. The fighting also left 33 militants and 17 civilians wounded, he said. The Western-backed Afghan government is battling both Taliban and Islamic State militants around the country. Taliban forces have increased their attacks in the weeks before Ramzan, with a string of strikes in Kandahar, Paktia, and Helmand, among other provinces. Muslims around the world typically mark Ramzanwith fasting, prayers, and other observances, although the holy month can begin on different days in different countries. (Reuters)

At least 18 killed in car bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan on first day of Ramzan

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