Taliban capture Badghis areas; police in denial

QALA-I-NAW (Pajhwok): The Taliban insurgents have captured some areas of the Qadis district of Badghis province, but local police denied the assertion as baseless.

A member of provincial council, Fareed Akhizai, told Pajhwok Afghan News the militants overran Golchin area Monday night. Three security personnel were killed in the clash.

A resident of the area confirmed the fall of the area. Without going into details, he said the security forces suffered casualties and the militants took away a tank and three pick-ups.

Mirza Ali, the district administrative chief, said security forces had tactically withdrawn from the area and denied the capture of military vehicles by the Taliban.

Another resident of the locality said militants also attacked the Qarchighi area of the district. Members of a local uprising force left the area, said the inhabitant, who was unaware of casualties.

Meanwhile, the district police chief, Mohammad Hanzala, also verified the brief fall of the area. However, he explained, it was retaken after the arrival of reinforcements.

According to local sources, about 23 security personnel and 12 militants suffered casualties. The Langar area fell into the hands of insurgents during clashes in Qala-i-Naw and Qadis district late on Monday night.

But the district chief said the Langar area of the provincial capital was under government forces’ control.

sa/mud

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