Taliban close to re-capturing key Afghan city: officialFebruary 8, 2016 - 14:17 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The key district of Sangin in the southern Afghan province of Helmand is once again on the verge of being overrun by the Taliban, BBC News reports citing an Afghan army commander. The commander, who wishes to remain anonymous, told BBC that most of the district had already been taken. He said the Afghan government now controls just a few square kilometres of Sangin city. The Afghan army and local governor's office dismissed the claims. A spokesman for the Helmand governor acknowledged there had been security problems in the past but said there was no "serious threat" that could lead to the fall of Sangin. The unnamed commander warned that even the remaining areas under government control were under imminent threat. Almost a quarter of British military personnel killed during the UK's combat mission in Afghanistan died defending Sangin. There were reports in December last year that the district was almost entirely in Taliban hands but since then the Afghan government has sent in reinforcements. Government officials have repeatedly asserted that, despite the continuing Taliban assault, Sangin is secure. The commander, however, paints a very different picture. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |