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Militants loyal to the wily Taliban outfit fighting to regain power in Afghanistan have been challenging Afghan security forces in their former stronghold -- the southern Helmand province over the past couple of months.
Presently the Taliban fighters are engaging with security forces in the strategically important Sangin district, tightening the noose around the district's headquarters to fortify their positions.
Local political analysts believe that the fall of Sangin to Taliban hand would pave the way for the militants to expand their influence.
"The fall of Sangin district would pave the way for the fall of Kajaki, Musa Qala and Nawzad districts," a parliamentarian Nematullah Ghafari told a local media on Wednesday.
He also warned that the government's failure to contain Taliban advance in Sangin district would put the security of Kandahar and adjoining provinces in danger.
Taliban militants launched massive offensive in Sangin district in last June, but after two weeks of heavy fighting which had left more than 300 people dead and injured, the militants were forced to retreat.
Nevertheless, the insurgents resumed fighting in Sangin district a couple of days ago with the objective to overrun the strategically important area in Helmand province bordering Pakistan.
According to local media reports, the clash in Sangin is escalating by each passing day, leading to severe casualties on the warring sides.
Although there are no exact figures on the casualties of militants and the security personnel, Afghan defense ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said the other day that reinforcement had been dispatched to support local forces in fighting against armed oppositions.
"Taliban advance in Sangin district is tangible, the militants are getting closer to the district headquarters," lawmaker Ghafari warned in talks with local media.
Taliban militants have begun mounting pressure on Sangin district amid NATO-led forces' gradual withdrawal from Afghanistan and resting the country's security responsibility to the Afghan national security force by the end of year.
The Taliban outfit has interpreted the U.S. and NATO-led forces ' pullout from Afghanistan as "defeat of occupying troops," vowing to continue fighting till the eviction of all foreign forces from the strife-torn country.
Expressing concern over Taliban advance in Sangin, a lawmaker of Helmand province, Abdul Hai Akhundzada in talks with local media warned the other day, "If Sangin collapses, the Taliban could easily gain control of Kajaki and Baghran districts."
Meanwhile, another political analyst and member of parliament Mirdad Nijrabi has said that lack of air support, lack of night operations and lack of heavy artillery have emboldened Taliban militants to launch more attacks.
