Pokhara

Militants affiliated with the Taliban outfit have overrun Yangi Qala district in northern Afghanistan’s Takhar province, locals and an official said on Tuesday.

“The Taliban rebels following massive offensive continued over the past 24 hours, finally overran the headquarters of Yangi Qala district in the early hours of Tuesday forcing the security forces to retreat,” the official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity, saying authorized officials would talk to media.

However, the official added that the security forces had been fighting back to expel the attacking militants from the area.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Jawad Hajari, the spokesman for Takhar’s provincial government when approached by Xinhua to comment on the situation in Yangi Qala district, said in short answer, “collapsed” but avoided giving more details.

Taliban militants who began attacking Yangi Qala district couple of days ago, according to locals, had lost 18 fighters including a key commander Mawlawi Imamudin on Monday in battle.Taliban militants who have intensified activities in parts of the country including Takhar and neighboring Kunduz and Baghlan provinces haven’t commented.