KABUL (Agencies): The Taliban militants have captured another three districts in the last 24 hours, sources said. According to the sources, Dahana-i-Ghori district in Baghlan province; Awba district in Herat; and Shirin Tagab district in Faryab province were captured by the Taliban, bringing the total fallen districts to 37 since May 1.
In Herat, the Awba district fell to the Taliban early Friday morning following days of heavy clashes between the Afghan army and the militants. Sources said that an army base was under siege by the Taliban for four days and the Afghan forces retreated from the district this morning. In Baghlan, the Afghan forces retreated from the Dahana-i-Ghori district.
Amanullah Sanjani, an army commander, was killed in the skirmish. Meanwhile, the provincial council of Faryab stated that the Shirin Tagab district of the province was fallen to the Taliban following a heavy skirmish with the insurgents. The Taliban released footage from the district that appears to show that dozens of Afghan forces have surrendered to the group. No credible source, however, confirmed the footage.
According to Ariana News findings, at least 195 members of the Afghan Security and Defense Forces (ANSDF) have been killed and 105 others wounded in Faryab, Kunduz, Takhar, Herat, Baghlan, and Sar-e-Pul provinces this week. The Afghan Army stated that at least 256 Taliban militants were killed and 150 more wounded in air and ground operations across the country.
This comes as the Taliban capturedthe Shinkai district of Zabul province without any clash fighting after mediation by tribal elders and local officials, sources said. The footage shows that militants are escorting the Afghan Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) out to the provincial capital Qatal city. “Its Zabul DG, officials and ANDSF convoy that was escorted by Taliban security from Shinkai district till Qalat city. This deal was mediated by DG, tribal elders. The mediation was that Shinkai and ANDSF weapons are handover over to the Taliban. Big shame!” Haji AttaJan Haqbayan tweeted.
Haqbayan warned that the Zabul province would also collapse to the hands of the Taliban “if the situation goes this way.” He also shared a video of an Afghan army officer, who was on duty in ANA Battalion of Shinkai district, who is saying that hundreds of weapons were seized by the Taliban, “Provincial officials of Zabul must be investigated,” Haqbayan said.
Afghan Army, meanwhile, confirmed that the Taliban overrun district.
