<p>PUL-I-ALAM (Pajhwok): The <a href="/en/taliban" class="glossify-link">Taliban</a> militants have seized all roads leading to the Azra district, which could soon fall, an official and residents warned on Tuesday.</p>
<p>The district’s administrative chief, Hamidullah Hamid, told Pajhwok Afghan News the fighters, including foreign militants, had reached Azra.</p>
<p>He said the Taliban could capture the district by conducting an attack if the government did not take measures to beat them back..</p>
<p>Hamid added they have made enough preparations but government officials should not remain unconcerned about the dustrict’s security.</p>
<p>The Taliban planned to seize the strategic district from where they could threaten <a href="/en/afganistan/kabul" class="glossify-link">Kabul</a> and others provincesm the official added.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Qasim Khoshiwal, a member of the provincial council, confirmed the district head’s claim and said the Taliban were trying over the past few days to capture the district.</p>
<p>He said: “Residents of the district have informed us about the problem. We will share the concern with higher government figures.”</p>
<p>He added that Azra was an important district for Taliban insurgents and the government should prevent the town from falling to the rebels.</p>
<p>Hayatullah, a tribal elder from the Akbarkhel area of the district, told Pajhwok the insurgents had seized all roads leading to the district for the past few days and people were not allowed to move freely.</p>
<p>A number of other residents of the district held similar views and urged the government to pay attention to the district security situation at the earliest possible.</p>
<p>Police spokesman Shahpur Ahmadzai also confirmed the Taliban militants recently laid siege to Azra district.</p>
<p>He added the issue had been shared with the authorities concerned but they were yet to respond to the challenge.</p>
<p>pk/mud</p>
