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The Afghan national security forces killed at least 120 armed insurgents and regained control of the strategically important Yamgan district in the northern Badakhshan province after days of heavy fighting, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.
"Following several days of joint operations of police, army and national directorate for security, Yamgan district was recaptured today and the enemies after suffering huge casualties fled the area," the ministry said in a statement.
A number of Taliban key commanders, including Mullah Rustam, Mullah Hashim Kolabi and Mullah Shukrullah, were among those killed during the operations, according to the statement.
Some foreign fighters were among those killed in the clash for Yemgan district, it added.
Yamgan district was captured by Taliban militants two weeks ago, forcing the government forces to retreat.
Earlier Badakhshan police chief General Baba Jan told the media that the security forces entered Yamgan district at 8:30 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) and a cleanup operation was continuing in the area.
Although Taliban militants have yet to make comment on losing ground in Yamgan district, the armed group in a breakthrough overrun Chardara district in the northern Kunduz province Saturday night.
The Taliban in a statement claimed that Chardara district was captured after several hours of heavy fighting and during a gun battle over two dozen soldiers were killed and several others injured and captured.
The provincial capital Kunduz city and even the neighboring Baghlan province would be threatened if Taliban insurgents were able to strengthen their grip in Chardara district, political observers believe.
Meanwhile, an army spokesman in Kunduz province, Major Ghulam Hazrat told Xinhua, "Our security forces launched counter- offensive early Sunday to free Chardara district from the clutch of Taliban rebels."
Taliban militants have intensified activities since their spring offensive on April 24 and have conducted series of attacks in different parts of the country, leaving hundreds of people, including militants, security personnel and civilians, dead. Enditem
