Afghan forces retake northern district from Taliban

Afghanistan security forces took control of Darqad district bordering Tajikistan on Sunday, an official said. The national security forces launched an intense operation to retake Darqad district on Friday.

A Taliban local leader named Kamal Haidari was among the killed, he said.

“During this operation, 20 militants were killed and four others were wounded”, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Interior (MoI) said in a statement.

According to Afghan Gen. Murad Ali Murad, security forces – backed by air power – entered Takhar’s Darqad district early Sunday morning after three days of heavy fighting which saw casualties on both sides. “Joint forces were working to find and defuse roadside bombs and landmines planted by enemies in the area”, Sanatullah Timor, provincial government spokesman, told Xinhua.

“The clearance operation still continues against armed insurgents in insecure villages of Darqad district”, it said.

The security forces have faced no resistance so far and the operation goes smoothly, the officer added.

The Taliban militant group captured the district, which is located some 60 km north of Taluqan, the capital of northern Takhar province, in October 2015.

The Taliban have recently waged a number of major offensives in which they have captured vast swathes of the province and killed dozens of Afghan troops and at least one USA soldier.

The fighting comes as Afghan and Pakistani officials, along with counterparts from China and the United States, are preparing for meetings in Islamabad on Monday to lay out a roadmap for possible peace talks with the Taliban.