The Taliban are tightening their noose around the capital of disputed Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, which has seen sustained fighting, residents and local officials say.
Security officials and local leaders offered differing assessments of the risk of the city of Lashkar Gah falling, with military commanders asserting that the situation has stabilized. But officials in the besieged city are increasingly pessimistic.
"If we don't receive support from the central government, the province will collapse soon," said provincial council chief Karim Atal.