MAIMANA (Pajhwok): Taliban fighters have captured the Khwaja Sabzposh district of northern Faryab province, local official said on Saturday.
A source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban seized control of the district office complex and police headquarters at around 10:00pm on Friday night.
The official revealed the security forces retreated to the Kata Qishlaq village of the district following air support from Afghan Air Forces. But a tank was hit by a roadside bomb and destroyed.
A security official, who also declined to be named, said the security personnel later left the village and fled to Maimana, the provincial capital.
Abdullah Masumi, the district’s administrative chief, confirmed the fall of the district to the Taliban.
Without saying anything about casualties, he said a military tank struck a roadside bomb and the two security force members traveling in it were killed.
On the other hand, the Taliban claimed capturing the entire district, killing 20 security force members and seizing 20 others alive.
The insurgent group said one militant was killed and three others were wounded in the clash.
sa/mud
