Security forces regain district from Taliban in north Afghanistan

The Afghan security forces regained on Saturday the control of Khan Abad district, Kunduz province, seized by the Taliban militants earlier, police said.

"The security forces launched a counter-attack in the afternoon and kicked the Taliban out of district center Saturday evening," provincial police Chief Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh told Xinhua.

About 23 militants have been killed and over 30 injured during the clashes since early Saturday when the Taliban overran the district center in the east of the provincial capital Kunduz city.

Casualties on the side of the security forces remained unknown.

Dozens of armed militants overrun the district bazaar early Saturday morning and seized government offices there. The district is located some 25 km east of the provincial capital of Kunduz city. A main highway connecting Kunduz to the neighboring Takhar province passes through the district.

The Kunduz province and neighboring Baghlan and Takhar provinces have been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the government forces in the once relatively peaceful region.

Taliban has yet to make comments.

Source : XINHUA