At least 5,523 members of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) lost their lives in the first 8 months of the year 2016, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has said in a report.

    The quarterly report by SIGAR was published amid deteriorating security situation across the country with the rampant Taliban-led insurgency. According to SIGAR, the Afghan forces suffered a total of 15,000 casualties during the period which includes 5,523 fatalities. 

    The report further added that the Afghan government lost 2.2% territorial control during this year’s fighting. "Of Afghanistan’s 407 districts, 258 districts were under government control or influence, 33 districts were under insurgent control or influence, and 116 districts were "contested," the report said. 

    SIGAR said at least 257 Afghan security personnel lost their lives in insider attacks from the start of the year and at least 125 others were wounded in the attacks.

    The report by SIGAR comes as the Taliban group has intensified attacks across the country since the group announced its spring offensive in mid-April this year. The group vowed to continue to their insurgency as it entered to its 15th year despite the ongoing efforts by the Afghan government to end the violence through reconciliation process.

Source: QNA