Taliban overrun 7 more districts in 4 provinces

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Taliban captured seven districts in four provinces --- Kandahar, Parwan, Badakhshan and Helmand --- during the past 24 hours, sources said on Monday.

Parwan’s Shinwari District

The Shinwari district fell to the Taliban on June 26 but security forces retook it and again the rebels captured the town.

A local resident, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed to Pajhwok that security forces on Sunday night left the district and the Taliban captured the district centre.

Mohammad Hamid Niyazi, coordination centre commander, confirmed to Pajhwok that security forces had retreated from Shinwari district and claimed the Taliban did not enter the district centre.

Kandahar’s Mianshin and Naish districts

A well-placed security source said the Taliban captured the Naish district of Kandahar province on Monday morning.

Another security source confirmed to Pajhwok that the Taliban had also captured the Mianshin district on Monday morning and all security personnel had retreated to the provincial capital.

The Taliban have already captured Maroof, Ghorak, Shah Walikot, Maiwand, Khakrez and Panjwai districts in Kandahar.

Helmand’s Nawa district

A reliable security source told Pajhwok Afghan News that the Taliban captured the Nawa district of Helmand province and all security personnel had left the district.

The source said all weapons and equipment in the district were demolished in airstrikes.

Three Badakhshan Districts Fall

According to a security source the Taliban captured the Shkai, Nasi Khawaha, Mayami and Eshkashim districts in northeastern Badakshan province.

As a result of the fall of these districts, a large number of security personnel crossed into retreated to Tajikistan.

The Taliban spokesperson confirmed to Pajhwok the fall of these districts and capturing a large number of weapons and equipment.

The Taliban claimed capturing over 150 districts in the past two months. But Defence Ministry’s Spokesperson RohullahAhmadi said some districts were abandoned as a result of tactical retreat and were evacuated due to technical reasons to ensure the safety of security personnel.

Nh/ma