Afghan Eastern District Falls to Taliban
KABUL (Tasnim) - The Janikhel district in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Paktia fell into the hands of the Taliban on Saturday after heavy clashes between the militants and the security forces, around 200 of whom had been besieged in the city for some three weeks.
Local officials at the Paktia Province confirmed on Saturday that the Taliban fighters have taken control of Janikhel after a heavy fighting during the previous night.
The escalation of clashes and lack of backup by the Kabul government made the Taliban tighten the noose on the beleaguered troops and capture the city, officials said.
According to reports, both the Taliban fighters and the Afghan forces have suffered casualties in the fighting.
Meanwhile, Khaama Press quoted provincial governor’s spokesman Naqibullah Atal as saying that at least five policemen have been killed during the clashes.
At least five other policemen have been also reported wounded in the shoot-out with the militants.
The fall of the district comes after furious protests by the Afghan people against the central government’s inaction on the fate of the 200 soldiers who had been besieged in the area.
Afghan government forces have launched operations against the Taliban in 18 provinces of Afghanistan as fighting has intensified since the start of the militants' spring offensive in April.
Thousands of civilians in the province of Helmand have also fled their homes in the past weeks as fierce fighting raged between Afghan forces and Taliban fighters, sparking a humanitarian crisis.
The Taliban briefly captured northern Kunduz city in September last year, the first city to fall to the militants in their biggest victory in 14 years of war.
The Taliban also effectively control or contest 10 of the 14 districts in Helmand, the deadliest province for British and US forces in Afghanistan over the past decade.
