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| Afghanistan Taliban: 'Reinforcements arrive' in Sangin | Afghanistan Taliban: 'Reinforcements arrive' in Sangin |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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". | He said the army was "now taking the fight to the Taliban". |
| Civilians have been fleeing the town amid continuing bitter fighting. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Sangin district has fallen to Taliban control several times and the fighting has caused significant casualties among Afghan and international forces. |
| Why Sangin matters | Why Sangin matters |
| Who are the Taliban? | Who are the Taliban? |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Resolute Support replaced the 13-year Operation Enduring Freedom, which saw more than 900 international coalition deaths in Helmand province. More than 100 of them were British soldiers. | Resolute Support replaced the 13-year Operation Enduring Freedom, which saw more than 900 international coalition deaths in Helmand province. More than 100 of them were British soldiers. |
| The head of Helmand's provincial council, Muhammad Kareem Atal, said 2,000 Afghan security forces personnel had been killed in the province this year. | The head of Helmand's provincial council, Muhammad Kareem Atal, said 2,000 Afghan security forces personnel had been killed in the province this year. |
| Sangin district police commander Mohammad Dawood told the BBC earlier that food and weapons supplies were running low. | Sangin district police commander Mohammad Dawood told the BBC earlier that food and weapons supplies were running low. |
| Mr Dawood said that, over the past month, security forces in the district had sustained 365 casualties, both dead and injured. | Mr Dawood said that, over the past month, security forces in the district had sustained 365 casualties, both dead and injured. |
| Why is Sangin important? Inayatulhaq Yasini, BBC Afghan | Why is Sangin important? Inayatulhaq Yasini, BBC Afghan |
| Sangin was once the centre of operations for international forces in Afghanistan. | Sangin was once the centre of operations for international forces in Afghanistan. |
| Regaining full control of it would increase the Taliban's mobility in parts of northern Helmand and cut a key supply line for Afghan forces with Lashkar Gah. Sangin is also a rich opium production centre - meaning potential tax revenue for the Taliban from the drugs trade. | Regaining full control of it would increase the Taliban's mobility in parts of northern Helmand and cut a key supply line for Afghan forces with Lashkar Gah. Sangin is also a rich opium production centre - meaning potential tax revenue for the Taliban from the drugs trade. |
| Keeping control of the centre of Sangin will not be easy for the Taliban, but resentment of government troops is high following military operations which locals say wrought unwarranted destruction. | Keeping control of the centre of Sangin will not be easy for the Taliban, but resentment of government troops is high following military operations which locals say wrought unwarranted destruction. |
| If the government wants to control the area, it should look to win hearts and minds - a strategy once trumpeted by the foreign forces here. | If the government wants to control the area, it should look to win hearts and minds - a strategy once trumpeted by the foreign forces here. |
| In September, the Taliban briefly overran the northern city of Kunduz in one of their biggest victories in 14 years of war. | In September, the Taliban briefly overran the northern city of Kunduz in one of their biggest victories in 14 years of war. |
| At least 10 Taliban insurgents have been killed in recent clashes with the security forces in the northern province of Sar-e-Pul province, local officials quoted by Tolo News on Wednesday. | At least 10 Taliban insurgents have been killed in recent clashes with the security forces in the northern province of Sar-e-Pul province, local officials quoted by Tolo News on Wednesday. |