Monitoring Desk
KUNDUZ: Heavy fighting continues in the centre of Badakhshan’s Kohistan province as Taliban attacked the district centre, officials said Wednesday.
The Taliban launched attacks on the central security posts of Kohistan district, said Sanaullah Rohani, spokesman of Badakhshan police.
In the ensuing fighting, he said, Taliban shadow governor for the same district, Mullah Ibrahim, was killed, adding fighting continued in the district. He told AIP that the Taliban also attacked the Shuhada district but the intensity of fighting has now decreased. There were also casualties to security forces from the clashes, he said without giving details.
Residents of the Shudaha district reported heavy clashes between security forces and Taliban. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah, meanwhile, claimed that their fighters seized the police headquarters and numerous security posts in the centre of Kohistan district and caused heavy casualties to security forces.
The Yamangan and Warduj districts of Badakhshan province are already in the control of Taliban for the last around two years.
Meanwhile, security forces cleared the Dara Kalan area of Ashkmash district of neighbouring Takhar province, from Taliban. Abdul Khalil Aseer, spokesman of Takhar police, told AIP that the Taliban retreated from the area after suffering casualties.
The Taliban have increased attacks in Afghanistan after launching their spring offensive, “Al-Khandaq”, last month.
