Kabul, Dhu-AlQa'dah 13, 1437, August 16, 2016, SPA -- One civilian was killed and another was wounded on Tuesday in what officials said was the first mortar shelling in years of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Afghanistan's heavily embattled southern Helmand province, dpa reported. "This is a new trend that puts the lives of civilians in the city in danger," said Razia Baluch, a provincial council member from Helmand. "Areas under Taliban control are close enough to the city that they can fire mortars on it," she added. Afghan forces are struggling to hold off insurgents who have gained ground in Helmand, with two of the province's previously stable districts - Nawa and Garmser - now seeing heavy fighting. "The mortar may have come from the direction of Nad-e Ali district in areas where Taliban militants are active," said Amar Zwak, a spokesman for the governor of Helmand. --SPA 15:27 LOCAL TIME 12:27 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w