Some local officials from a few provinces in the south of Afghanistan have warned that Taliban has gained access to more modern arms, which is a challenge for Afghan security and defense forces in fighting the group.

Helmand governor Mohammad Yasin Khan said modern weapons, from Afghanistan's neighboring countries, are being provided to the Taliban via intelligence networks, adding that Afghan security forces have on occasion seized such arms. 

“From our two neighboring countries, weapons and arms are being distributed to them (Taliban) via intelligence networks. These arms have been seized and not only been shown in Afghanistan, but also to the world,” Yasin Khan said.

The Taliban’s recent attacks on security forces’ outposts in different parts of the country, especially in Farah province, have raised serious security concerns for the local officials of the provinces.

Farah local officials said in the last few days, they have witnessed fighting in parts of some districts of Farah and on the outskirts of Farah city – the provincial capital.

“The militants are trying to use Farah province as their center and by making footprints in Farah, influence other provinces,” Dadullah Qane, a member of Farah provincial council said.

“Most Farah districts are insecure, because Farah is a big province, but the number of security forces stationed in the province is less,” Mohammad Zahid, district governor for Gulistan district in Farah said.

“There are old weapons as well, but most of the new arms are Russian and the Taliban mainly holds such weapons,” Nematullah, district governor for Bati Kot district in Nangarhar said.

Afghanistan Interior Ministry, in reaction to the Taliban’s recent offensives, said the war season in the country is coming to its end, adding that the Taliban’s recent attacks were the latest moves being made by the group.

Interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the Taliban have made their last moves to target Afghan forces and during the winter, the war will ease as the weather gets cold.

“We will start winter operations in the next few days which will be implemented in all Afghanistan. The operations plan has been prepared and will start about 10 days later,” said Danish.

Reacting to officials' claim over weaponry support to the Taliban, by circles outside Afghanistan, the Taliban has said they seized the weapons from Afghan forces during attacks on security outposts.

A spokesman for the Taliban has said they do not receive weapons from outside Afghanistan borders.