Afghanistan: Why is Sangin an important town to the Taliban?

British troops have been deployed to Afghanistan to help local forces as they fight to take control of Sangin, a strategically key town in Helmand Province, after it fell back under Taliban control recently.

  • Where is Sangin?

Sangin is in southern Afghanistan. Credit: ITV News

Sangin is in the southern province of Afghanistan and has become heavily linked with the British Army's role in the country, chiefly because 100 British troops were killed there.

  • Why is it important to the Taliban?

Afghan National Army soldiers stand at an outpost in Helmand province Credit: Reuters

Sangin lies deep in the traditional heartlands of the Taliban in the south of Afghanistan.

Controlling the town gives total control over major roads in Helmand and would enable the Taliban to put pressure on neighboring provinces, like Kandahar.

According to at least one think tank, Sangin still plays a vital role in the Afghan drugs trade.

Sangin is a key town in the illicit heroin trade in Afghanistan. Credit: Reuters

"It would be a major area of poppy production and there are significant vested interests in the region that want to control the poppy," Dr Stuart Gordon, an associate fellow at Chatham House told the Press Association.

"If Sangin falls, much of the north of Helmand will be very much under Taliban control," says Dr Gordon.

"This is probably the worst of the scenarios that the British had in 2013 and 2014."

  • What will British forces being doing in Sangin?

File photo: US soldiers escort an Afghan detainee near Sangin in 2003. Credit: Reuters

The Ministry of Defence says that the troops will not be engaged in direct operations against the Taliban, and will remain in Camp Shorabak.

They are expected to provide intelligence, planning and training to Afghan National Army officers on the base.

The MoD has refused to comment on reports that SAS units have been deployed to the region.

  • Is this the start of the resurgence of the Taliban?

This may not be the case, as Dr Gordon from Chatham House explains:

The economic struggle the country continues to endure also has an impact. Following the large-scale withdrawal of troops and international aid money, the country's finances have stalled - adding pressure to many of the provincial governors.