Ahmed Rashid

If the Taleban takes Helmand, then Afghanistan could go the way of Syria

Even by Afghan standards, it is an unorthodox cry for help. The governor of Helmand province, Mohammad Jan Rasulyar, has posted on Facebook tagging in Ashram Ghani, the Afghan president, to tell him that some 90 members of the security forces have killed in the past month fighting insurgents and that the province – under British control for so long – may be about to fall to the Taleban. He apologised for using Facebook, but said he was unable to make direct contact with the President by other means. He had this to say:-

“Your Excellency, Facebook is not the right forum for speaking with you, but as my voice hasn’t been heard by you I don’t know what else to do. Please save  Helmand from tragedy. Ignore those liars who are telling you that Helmand is secure… Unless the government acts now we will lose the province.

Meanwhile a police chief in Helmand has been telling

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