Taliban militants have reportedly captured Imam Sahib district in Afghanistan Kunduz province, which borders Panj district of the Tajik southwest province of Khatlon.
“Taliban militants captured Imam Sahib district a little over an hour ago and they are currently besieging the city of Kunduz itself,” Ajmal Kakar, a reporter for Afghanistan’s Pajhwok news agency, told Asia-Plus at around 4:30 pm.
“The gates at the entrance to the city are already in the hands of the Taliban, the city itself is under siege. Things are heating up in the city,” Mr. Kakar said.
He also noted that no losses are reported at present. “There may be no casualties as government forces are retreating,” Afghan reporter added.
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s TOLO News, citing the Afghan Ministry of Defense, said on June 21 that Bangi and Khwaja Ghar districts in the northern Takhar province, which also borders Tajikistan’s Khatlon province, were retaken from the Taliban in an operation by government and public uprising forces on Monday morning.
The operation was reportedly launched on Sunday night with Air Force support and “the districts were cleared of Taliban this morning,” the ministry said in its statement on Monday.
“The Taliban escaped from the district after suffering heavy casualties,” the Defense Ministry said.
The statement also mentioned that Abdal and Qara Parcho villages on the outskirts of the Taluqan city, capital of the province, were also cleared of the Taliban.
Taliban has not yet commented on the operation.
The situation has been fragile in the northeastern province of Takhar over the last two weeks, according to TOLO News. Eight districts of the province, including Chal, Baharak, Ishkamish, Namak Ab, Yangi Qala, Khwaja Ghar and Hazar Samooch, have either fallen to the Taliban or have been evacuated by security forces within a week's time.
