Khaama Press :At least 50 Taliban insurgents were killed during an operation involving the Special Operation Forces of the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) in southern Helmand province of Afghanistan.Sediq Sediqi, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior (MoI), said Thursday that the operation was conducted in the key Sangin district of Helmand.He said the operation was launched late on Wednesday night and a key Taliban commander was killed during the operation.According to Sediqi, Mullah Nasir was in charge of the Taliban group’s military command and a close ally of the group’s supreme leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.The remarks by Sediqi comes as Taliban militants have launched a major offensive in different districts of Helmand province, mainly focusing on Sangin district. The Minister of Defense Masoom Stanikzai told reporters on Wednesday that foreign militants are mainly fighting the Afghan security fores in Helmand province.Stanikzai further added that additional forces have been deployed in the area of repulse the Taliban offensive and the Afghan forces are receiving air support which has considerably reduced the casualties of the security forces. Meanwhile, there are reports that a group of British forces have been deployed in Helmand province to support the Afghan national security forces in repelling the Taliban offensive, however the British officials have said the forces are deployed in the area and have and advisory role rather than combat role.Helmand has been a traditional stronghold of the Taliban and a major centre for opium that U.S. and British troops fought for years to control.
