Taliban overrun 3 more districts: Sources

AIBAK (Pajhwok): Some sources said on Wednesday the Feroz Nakhchir district of Samangan, Greshk of Helmand and Kaldar district of Balkh had fallen to the Taliban and Parwan’s Shinwari district returned to government control.

Feroz Nakhchir

A resident of FerozNakhchir district, who did not want to be named, told Pajhwok Afghan News that a fierce battle between the Taliban and government forces had been ongoing in the district for ten days.

He said the Taliban laid siege to the district late on Tuesday night and government retreated towards Hazrat Sultan district.

MunirRahimi, spokesman for the police chief, said government forces had retreated from the center of the district in Sonak area to avoid civilian and military casualties.

He added security forces while retreating transported all equipment and supplies.

ZabihullahMujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said the fighters captured the remaining two checks posts of government forces in FerozNakhchir district last night and that the entire district was under Taliban control.

Greshk of Helmand province

Some sources said that government forces withdrew from Greshk district of Helmand province and the district fell to the Taliban on Tuesday night.

A security source in Helmand, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Pajhwok that Greshk district had fallen to the Taliban and security forces had retreated.

A National Army base in the Greshk district also fell to the Taliban on Tuesday.

Qari Yusuf Ahmadi, a Taliban spokesman, said that Greshk district was under Taliban control.

Kaldar district of Balkh

According to another source, the Ministry of Defense and local officials said that Kaldar district of Balkh province has been completely cleansed of the Taliban.

But ZabihullahMujahid, a Taliban's spokesman, said the district had fallen to the Taliban on Tuesday night.

A security source, who did not want to be named, also told Pajhwok Afghan News that government forces had tactically retreated from Kaldar district.

In the past few days, operations have been underway in Kaldar district under the leadership of Atta Mohammad Noor, the head of a branch of Jamiat-e-Islami.

The Governor’s Office has not yet commented on the matter.

Shinwari district of Parwan

FawadAman, Deputy Spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, said without elaborating that Shinwari district in Parwan province has been liberated from Taliban control.

As a result of the operation, security forces backed by people caused heavy casualties to the Taliban in Shinwari district and forced them tro flee.

Operations for the recovery of SiahGard district were in full swing, he said.

Another local source confirmed that the district center was under the control of government forces.

Some government sources said Shinwari district was under the control of government forces but the Taliban said they were in control of the district.

In the last two months, about a hundred districts in different provinces have fallen to the Taliban.

Bk/ma