KABUL (TCA) — The Taliban has seized control of a district in southeastern Afghanistan, the third to fall to the militants in three days, RFE/RL reported citing a local official.
The Taliban’s apparent capture of Jani Khel district in Paktia Province, along the porous border with Pakistan, came after days of heavy fighting.
Sardar Khan Malangzoi, head of the provincial council, told Germany’s dpa news agency that the district fell early on July 25 after fierce gunbattles with government forces in the district center.
But a spokesman for the provincial police chief said that security forces still controlled the district center but were under attack.
Malangozi said the Taliban torched the district governor’s compound, the police headquarters, and a health clinic.
He said both sides suffered heavy casualties.
In a statement, the Taliban claimed it had captured the district.
On July 23, the Taliban seized control of Taywara district in central Ghor Province and Kohistan district in northern Faryab Province located on the border with Turkmenistan.
Abdul Karim Youresh, spokesman for the police chief of Faryab Province, said the militants seized Kohistan district, including the government headquarters, early on July 23.
Mohammad Mustafa Moheseni, the provincial police chief of Ghor Province, said Taywara district fell late on July 22 following clashes with militants.
The Taliban were reportedly engaged in fighting with security forces in the northern province of Baghlan, temporarily closing a key highway between the capital, Kabul, and northern Afghanistan.
