Members of the Ghazni provincial council warned on Monday that Ghazni’s Malistan district is on the verge of collapse and that heavy fighting is ongoing in Jaghori, another district in the province. 

Members of the council said if more troops are not deployed to these areas, a humanitarian crisis will unfold. The provincial council also said security forces have suffered a high casualty toll in the ongoing conflict. 

Malistan and Jaghori districts were until recently among the most secure districts in the country, but in the past few days, clashes have been ongoing between security forces and the Taliban. 

Reports indicate that in the past two days, about 20 security forces, including special forces, have been killed in Jaghori district. 

“Hundreds of families have been displaced from the areas that they (Taliban) have taken control of. This group shootsdead anyone they see and do not care whether they are military or civilian,” Hamidullah Nawrozi, a member of Ghazni provincial council said. 

Malistan and Jaghori came under attack after hundreds of families fled to Malistan from Khas Uruzgan district just last week due to clashes.

Malistan is bordered by Khas Uruzgan district in Uruzgan province which has also recently seen a surge in clashes between security forces and Taliban. Most of the families that fled the area, headed for Malistan.

A number of MPs meanwhile questioned whether government is simply unable to defeat the enemy or whetherpolitical games were being played.

“Whether government cannot (defeat Taliban), or is it a political issue,” MP Allah Gul Mujahid asked. 

“We always ask from the infidels not to let us get killed, lets first push out Americans from the country,” MP Obaidullah Barekzai said. 

In the meantime, sources said that Taliban on Sunday night attacked the outskirts of Farah city, in Farah, and Trinkotin Uruzgan province. 

“People are worried, the security situation in Farah is worrying,” said Khair Mohammad Norzai, a member of Farah provincial council.

“Currently Taliban are about five to 10 kilometers from Trinkot city. Last night they took control of a security outpost,” Amanullah Azimi, a former senator from Uruzgan, said.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mohammad Sharif Yaftali meanwhile said on Monday that security forces have suffered fatalities in Ghazni and Farah but said extra forces have been deployed to the areas to address the problem. 

“We do not say that we do not have casualties. Casualty is casualty, no matter whether it is less or more. When you go to war, you will suffer fatalities,” said Yaftali. 

In the meantime, reports indicate that Taliban have launched attacks on Dasht-e-Archi district in Kunduz province. 

“A number of villages in Qarloq area in Dash-e-Archi have collapsed to the Taliban and the group have bad plans for the area,” Abdullah Qaraloq, a senator said. 

In reaction to attacks on Malistan, Jaghori and Khas Uruzgan districts, hundreds of people protested in Kabul on Monday after marching to the Presidential Palace from Sunday night. The protesters said government has failed toaddress security challenges in Ghazni and Uruzgan. 

The protest ended on Monday afternoon after President Ashraf Ghani assured the protesters that their voices have been heard.