Clash rages in northern Afghan province, infighting claims 15 lives of Taliban

Fierce fighting flared up in Tagab district of the northern Badakhshan province early Friday as hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed security checkpoints in Tagab district early morning, deputy to provincial police chief Sakhidad Haidary said.

"More than 300 Afghans and foreign militants launched offensive in Tagab district, triggering heavy battle which is still continuing," Haidary told reporters.

He also asserted that dozens of the attacking Taliban fighters have been killed. However, he couldn't give an exact figure, saying the number of both sides' casualties would be released after the end of the fighting in the district.

Meantime, police spokesman in Badakhshan province, Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai in talks with local media confirmed the fighting in Tagab district, saying fierce fighting has been continuing and the anti- government has suffered huge casualties.

However, observers believe if Tagab district is captured by Taliban militants, it would enable the armed outfit to infiltrate into neighboring Takhar province.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Badakhshan province over the past couple of years, according to local media reports have also set on fire a health clinic in Tagab district and thus have deprived locals from access to health services.

Badakhshan provincial police chief, General Baba Jan has confirmed the clash in Tagab district, saying the security forces backed by helicopters have been pounding militants' hideouts to eliminate the enemies.

Meanwhile, amid Taliban operations against government interests in Afghanistan, the Afghan Council of Religious Scholars in meeting with President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani here on Friday, termed the ongoing Taliban war against Afghan government as coward terrorist act which goes against Islamic teaching and strongly condemned it.

In a similar development, clash between the supporters and opponents of Taliban new leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansoor in Shindand district of the western Herat province had claimed 15 lives from both sides on Thursday, local media reported Friday.

Taliban fighters have been splinted into two groups of supporters of Mullah Mansoor and backers of Mullah Mohammad Yaqub the elder son of former Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar whose death was confirmed by Taliban outfit in late July.