Sources told TOLOnews on Monday that almost 100 Afghan National Army Commandos have gone missing in Ajristan district in Ghazni over the past two days.

Reports indicate that many of these commandos have been killed in the district and many more are still missing.

However, the Afghan Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami rejected the claims and said at a press conference on Monday afternoon that about 50 commandos had been in the area and have been accounted for.

He said so far 35 have retreated to Daikundi and the rest are on their way to the neighboring province.

But contradictory reports continue to emerge.

According to one MP from Ghazni, Khodadad Erfani said: “Their fate is unknown. Whether they have been ambushed, arrested or have fled.”  

Afghan Defense Minister Tariq Shah Bahrami meanwhile said at Monday’s press conference that about 50 of these commandos have been deployed to the neighboring districts due to anintensified war in Ajristan.

“There are not 100 commandos, but there are 50 commandos. Due to the intensity of the war and pressure they have gone to a neighboring district along with the police forces,” said Bahrami. 

Ghazni is not however the only province dealing with extreme security issues.

Faryab MPs told TOLOnews that Afghan National Army soldiers at a military base in Ghormach in Faryab have been under Taliban siege for days.

“11 soldiers have been killed there and a few others arrested,” Fawzia Raufi, an MP from Faryab said. 

On Sunday, sources told TOLOnews that 17 soldiers were killed in the camp in clashes between security forces and Taliban. 

Soldiers from inside the camp said in a telephone call that unless reinforcement troops were sent to them, they would all be killed. 

Referring to the clash at the army base – which is commonly known as Chinese camp – the defense minister said security forces have been caught up in heavy fights with Taliban in Ghormach. 

“The enemy launched heavy offences against them, but the soldiers bravely fought back,” said Bahrami. 

Takhar police have also had to deal with rising insecurity and said the Taliban attacked police check posts in Dasht-e-Qala district on Saturday night.

Police said 12 of their soldiers were killed and seven others wounded. 

Afghan Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak also addressed Monday’s press conference with the defense minister and confirmed that nearly 100 police force members have been killed in different parts of the country in the last four days.