Taliban overrun 9 more districts in 3 provinces

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Taliban have taken control of nine more districts in Balkh, Kunduz and Uruzgan province local officials said on Tuesday.

Sholgar, Chamtal, Balkh, Dawlatabad, Kushanda, Khas Uruzgan, Qala-i-Zal, Imam Sahib and Khanabad districts collapsed in the past 24 hours.

Five districts of Balkh fall

Sayed Arif Iqbali, police chief for Sholgar district, said the militants staged an attack on the district centre. For lack of reinforcements, he added, the security personnel vacated the district.

Other local officials said the Chamtal, and Balkh districts overran but the militants.

According to sources, the districts fell into the hands of the insurgents on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Dawlatabad and Kushanda districts were also captured by the insurgents.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told media outlets that the fighters gained control of Dawlatabad, Kushanda and Sholgar districts on Sunday night.

In northern Balkh province, Zari and Chahar Bolak districts were captured earlier by the Taliban.

Security forces leave Khas Uruzgan

After the fall of the only base in the district, Khas Uruzgan also collapsed — the fourth town to be overrun by the Taliban.

Ahmad Shah Sahil, the governor’s spokesman, said security forces had moved from Khas Uruzgan district to Tirinkot because there was no point in their presence there.

3 Kunduz districts overrun by militants

Security officials said Qala-i-Zal, Imam Sahib and Khanabad districts had fallen into the hands of the Taliban.

They added the security forces suffered no casualties during the battle for districts, but weapons and ammunition were seized by the rebels.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the militant group’s spokesman, confirmed the capture of Qala-i-Zal, Imam Sahib and Khanabad districts of Kunduz.

sa/mud

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