�Reinforcements arrive� in Sangin

War against Taliban

Military reinforcements have arrived in the Afghan town of Sangin to support police and soldiers besieged by Taliban militants, the Helmand deputy governor has told the BBC.
Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar also said that military planes had dropped food supplies for government positions in Sangin. He said the army was "now taking the fight to the Taliban".
Civilians have been fleeing the town amid continuing bitter fighting.
The Taliban insist that their siege of the town is not over "and the government will soon announce their defeat".
BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus says that the struggle for Sangin is just part of a wider battle for control in Helmand province.
Our correspondent says that if it were to fall into Taliban hands it would be a serious reverse for the government in a province that has been a major centre of the Taliban insurgency with important supply routes for the opium trade. Its proximity to Pakistan also serves to give the area a broader strategic significance. Prior to the withdrawal of the bulk of Nato troops from Afghanistan last year, Sangin was a major centre of the military alliance's involvement in Afghanistan.
A BBC Pashto correspondent says anyone controlling it can get access to taxes on the illicit local trade in opium.
In fighting throughout Tuesday, Afghan forces struggled to hold the police HQ in the town amid conflicting reports about the fate of the whole district. The Helmand governor and police dismissed as "totally false" Taliban reports that they now controlled it.
Sangin district has fallen to Taliban control several times and the fighting has caused significant casualties among Afghan and international forces. Some 12,000 foreign soldiers are deployed in the country as part of the Nato-led Resolute Support international coalition, which is meant to underpin Afghan security forces.
Britain has announced that a small number of UK personnel have been deployed to Camp Shorabak in Helmand province in an advisory role. The BBC understands there are 10 such personnel.

�Reinforcements arrive� in Sangin

War against Taliban

Military reinforcements have arrived in the Afghan town of Sangin to support police and soldiers besieged by Taliban militants, the Helmand deputy governor has told the BBC. Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar also said that military planes had dropped food supplies for government positions in Sangin. He said the army was now taking the fight to the Taliban. Civilians have been fleeing the town amid continuing bitter fighting. The Taliban insist that their siege of the town is not over and the government will soon announce their defeat. BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus says that the struggle for Sangin is just part of a wider battle for control in Helmand province. Our correspondent says that if it were to fall into Taliban hands it would be a serious reverse for the government in a province that has been a major centre of the Taliban insurgency with important supply routes for the opium trade. Its proximity to Pakistan also serves to give the area a broader strategic significance. Prior to the withdrawal of the bulk of Nato troops from Afghanistan last year, Sangin was a major centre of the military alliances involvement in Afghanistan. A BBC Pashto correspondent says anyone controlling it can get access to taxes on the illicit local trade in opium. In fighting throughout Tuesday, Afghan forces struggled to hold the police HQ in the town amid conflicting reports about the fate of the whole district. The Helmand governor and police dismissed as totally false Taliban reports that they now controlled it. Sangin district has fallen to Taliban control several times and the fighting has caused significant casualties among Afghan and international forces. Some 12,000 foreign soldiers are deployed in the country as part of the Nato-led Resolute Support international coalition, which is meant to underpin Afghan security forces. Britain has announced that a small number of UK personnel have been deployed to Camp Shorabak in Helmand province in an advisory role. The BBC understands there are 10 such personnel.