The Taliban attacks on various parts of Kandahar over the last few weeks that were aimed at overrunning the center of its districts have been pushed back and the group has suffered heavy casualties, a senior security official in the province said.

The Taliban attacks were focused on Arghandab, Zherai, Panjwai, Dand as well as the center of the district, according to Farid Mashal, the security officer of Kandahar Police Headquarters.

Mashal said that 698 Taliban fighters were killed in air and ground operations over the last month in the province.

Our operations are underway. We have had progress. We have established outposts in Zherai (district). We have good progress in Arghandab and Panjwai. We are busy in establishing bases., Mashal said.

Kandahar residents said they are still concerned about the security situation in the province and that there is a need for large-scale operations in parts of the province.

The roads are closed to traffic. The government should pay attention to this matter, said Ataullah, a resident of the Arghandab district of Kandahar province.

People are stranded due to the conflicts, said Shir Mohammad, a Kandahar resident.

Meanwhile, clashes are reported in Helmand province, in the neighboring of Kandahar, where residents and activists held a protest against what they described as the interference of neighboring countries in Afghanistan’s affairs.

The Taliban has launched widespread attacks in Helmand and Kandahar over the last two months. The clashes have displaced thousands of families in the two provinces, according to officials.