In their latest attacks to expand territorial control, the Taliban militants have overrun three districts in Ghor, Kunduz, and Sar-e-Pul provinces, local sources confirmed.
Khosh Mohammad Nasratyar, a member of Kunduz Provincial Council, told Kabul Now that Khanabad district of the province has fallen to the Taliban today, Monday June 14, around 06:00 AM, after hours of clashes between Afghan forces and the Taliban.
He added that security forces stationed in the district’s center have retreated to Tupkhana, a neighboring area in the district. The local official confirmed that security forces suffered casualties in the Taliban attacks but did not provide a specific figure.
However, a local government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Kabul Now that three government forces were killed and three others wounded in clashes against the militants.
Khanabad is the second district of the northern Kunduz province fallen to the Taliban over the past two days. Aliabad district of the province collapsed yesterday, June 13.
The militants also overran Sayyad district of the northern Sar-e-Pul province late yesterday, Sunday, June 13, after continued attacks on the district over past two days, according to Malika Alizada, a member of Sar-e-Pul Provincial Council.
Confirming collapse of the district, Sar-e-Pul MP, Hamidullah Beig, added that several government forces were either killed or wounded after they were ambushed by the militants while leaving the district’s center.
He added that Afghan Air Force has carried out an airstrike on the militants which has inflicted casualties on the militants.
The MP, however, did not provide an exact casualty toll on either of the two sides.
Meanwhile, the militant group has claimed that 45 government forces were killed in their ambush, admitting that two militants have been killed in the airstrike.
This is the second district fallen to the Taliban in the northern Sar-e-Pul province over past three days.
Assadullah Khurram, a member of Sar-e-Pul Provincial Council, had previously confirmed to Kabul Now that the province’s Sozma Qala district fell to the Taliban last Friday, June 11.
In the western Ghor province, the Taliban militants took control of its Saghar district without any clash on Sunday, June 13, after government forces and the local officials left the district with all military equipment, according to Keramuddin Rezazadah, who represents Ghor in the Parliament.
The MP added the government forces retreated to Taywara district of the province.
The Taliban, however, has claimed that 10 security forces have surrendered to the group with all their weapons when the militants attacked to take over the district.
This is the third district in Ghor province fallen to the militants in a week. Tulak and Shahrdak districts had also fallen to the group previously.
The total number of districts fallen to the Taliban since May 01, beginning of foreign troop withdrawal, mounts to 21.
The districts fallen to the militant group are namely Nirkh and Jalrez in Maidan Wardak, Burka in Baghlan, Dawlat Shah in Laghman, Gizab in Urozgan, Deh Yak and Jaghatu in Ghazni, Shinkai in Zabul, Du Ab and Mandol in Nooristan, Dawlatyar and Qaisar in Faryab, Shahrak, Tulak, and Saghar in Ghor province, Ishkamish in Takhar, Zari in Balkh province, Sozma Qala and Sayyad in Sar-e-Pul, Aliabad and Khanabad in Kunduz, and Lash wa Juwayn district in Farah.
