The Taliban in the Afghanistan province where Australians fought and died have forced the shutdown of dozens of health clinics as part of a push to have doctors treat their wounded fighters in further signs the country is sliding back into chaos.

The new tactic by the insurgents, who control large swathes of the province of Oruzgan, amounts to an effort to set up their own parallel administration and services, including demanding their own dedicated healthcare.

Australian soldiers patrol and search the Puza Bridge for bombs in Oruzgan Province in January, 2013. Credit:Kate Geraghty

It represents the steady deterioration that much of Afghanistan – and particularly the south where Oruzgan lies – has experienced since the bulk of Western forces withdrew at the end of 2013, including most Australians.

Multiple sources in the provincial capital of Tarin Kot, where Australians were based for seven years, have told Fairfax Media that representatives of the provincial government are in discussions with the Taliban but in the meantime, healthcare for ordinary Afghans is being crippled.