Taliban Seeking to Shift Quetta Shura to Helmand

The Taliban are trying to shift the Quetta Shura (Council) to Helmand southern Province of Afghanistan, where they have recently increased their attacks.

Since long ago, the Taliban have chosen Helmand as the core of their military power, thus they have recently enhanced their attacks in the province.

Helmand is the biggest center for the cultivation and production of drugs and the Taliban are attempting to meet their economic needs through this province.

The Taliban have recently announced that they will soon enter the city of Lashkargah, capital of Helmand province.

Afghan national defense ministry says that Pakistani Punjabis along with Taliban commando forces have taken most parts with advance weapons in Helmand battle.

Spokesman of the defense ministry has stressed that nearly 150 airstrikes were launched for strengthening the Afghan forces and air operations for suppressing the insurgents.

This comes as fighting raged in Helmand after Afghanistan rushed military reinforcements to beat back Taliban insurgents advancing on the besieged capital of the southern poppy-growing province, as officials downplayed fears the city could fall.

Afghan forces fought back insurgents after they stormed Nawa district, just south of Lashkar Gah city, late Wednesday, raising alarm that the provincial capital was at risk.

Helmand is Taliban heartland and of pivotal, symbolic importance to the western coalition, which concentrated more troops there than anywhere else in the country, despite Helmand housing only about 3% of the population.