Fighting intensifies in north Afghanistan as Taliban gain ground

Fighting has gotten momentum in northern Baghlan and neighboring Kunduz and Takhar after Taliban overrun the key district of Dahna-e-Ghori outside Baghlan provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri 160 km north of Kabul a week ago.

The militants, after capturing Dahna-e-Ghori, launched coordinated offensives in Baghlan-e-Markazi district of Baghlan and Khan Abad district in the neighboring Kunduz province, triggering fierce fighting.

Taliban militants, according to locals, captured Shahr-e-Kohna locality in Baghlan-e-Markazi district of Baghlan province on Wednesday, but the security forces after offering bloody resistance recaptured it on Thursday.

"Government forces, after killing 30 Taliban rebels and losing four security personnel, have recaptured Shahr-e-Kohna locality," Baghlan provincial governor Abdul Sattar Bariz told reporters on Friday.

Nearly two dozen militants and security personnel have been injured for the control of Shahr-e-Kohna neighborhood, according to the official.

Bariz also confirmed that heavy fighting has been continuing for the control of Dahna-e-Ghori district and government forces conducted air attacks Thursday night, killing at least five rebels and injured three others.

Taliban militants launched simultaneous offensives in Khan Abad district of Kunduz province and Darqad district in the neighboring Takhar province on Tuesday and Wednesday, blocking the road linking Kunduz to Takhar province.

Meanwhile, Afghan security forces, in counter attack, have killed 20 Taliban militants in Khan Abad district of Kunduz province over the past two days and operations are underway to reopen the road linking Kunduz to the neighboring Takhar province, police spokesman Hijratullah Akbari said Friday.

"Since yesterday the government forces have killed 20 Taliban rebels and injured 10 others in Khan Abad district," Akbari told Xinhua.

Kunduz police chief Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh told reporters on Friday that reinforcement forces have arrived and soon the road linking Kunduz to Takhar province in Khan Abad would be reopened.

Taliban militants are yet to make comments on the situation.

Militancy and conflicts typically increase in spring and summer in Afghanistan commonly known as fighting season among Afghans.

Source : XINHUA