Afghan Peace Talks: Quadrilateral Committee to meet in Kabul today

Gen. Zaman Mamozai, the provincial police chief, said Monday’s attack happened near a clinic and a bazaar.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, which it said was aimed at a local police commander.

“Some six police, including a local police commander, and five civilian passersby were wounded”, he said.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the suicide attack in an email sent to media outlets.

The UN’s mission in Afghanistan reported earlier this month that most of the 11,000 civilians killed and wounded in 2015 were the victims of insurgent attacks.

USA officials said that the Taliban group already dominates or threatens around a third of Afghanistan despite their continued failure in taking over any major provincial centers apart from their brief capture of the northern city of Kunduz past year. This comes as Afghan, Pakistani, Chinese and USA officials prepare to meet in Kabul for a new round of four-way discussions to promote Afghan peace talks.

Helmand province is where thousands of British and US troops fought against the resurgent Taliban before their official withdrawal at the end of 2014.

A fourth round of talks to revive the negotiations will be held Tuesday in Kabul. This move highlights the challenge from Taliban fighters in the opium-producing region.

Mr Rahimi said the soldiers had moved to other parts of Helmand such as the heavily-contested districts of Lashkar Gah and Sangin. He added that they do not have any concerns regarding this step taken, but they do have plans to ensure security on other vulnerable areas.

But the decision was criticised by Abdul Majeed Akhundzada, deputy chief of the provincial council. According to him, Afghan government is concerned over the increasing insurgency and desires that the Taliban should at least stop insurgency during the course of dialogue process so that the results are seen by the common Afghans on the grounds.