8 Badakhshan districts fall to Taliban: sources

FAIZABAD (Pajhwok): The Taliban have captured eight districts of northeastern Badakhshan in the past 24 hours, Local sources claimed on Saturday.

However, the governor’s office said cleaning operations would be conducted once commando forces arrived in the remote province.

A reliable security source told Pajhwok Afghan News Taliban had overrun Tashkan and Tagab districts. Since last night, the militants also seized Darayem, Kishm, Lower Yaftal, Shahr-i-Buzarg and Warduj districts without any resistance.

Public representative Abdullah Najizada Nazari also confirmed the fall of the eight districts to Pajhwok Afghan News.

Worried over the rising Taliban gains, he urged the central government to rush reinforcements to prevent the possible collapse of other districts.

Meanwhile, local residents claimed the Taliban had also captured a number of security personnel.

Warduj resident Syed Hayatullah said the militants had taken hostage 12 government security personnel in district. Other forces retreated with their arms and ammunition.

The governor’s office, without commenting on the fall of the districts, stressed the need for the immediate dispatch of reinforcements to the province.

Nek Mohammad Nazari, the governor’s spokesman, said commandos were expected to arrive soon to begin clearing operations on the outskirts of Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan.

On Friday, the insurgents seized eight security posts of pro-government forces and an Afghan National Army (ANA) base in the 8^th police district of Faizabad.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the fighters captured Kishm, Lower Yaftal, Shahr-i-Buzarg and Warduj district centres without any resistance from the security forces.

hr/mud

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