KABUL – The Taliban has taken over strategic district of Kohistan districtof Badakhshan, local officials said.

The Taliban had surrounded the district for the past two days. Officialssaid the district fell to the group at around 9pm local on Thursday becauseof the lack of reinforcement troops needed, said Abdul Rahman Talat, amember of Badakhshan provincial council, TOLO News has reported.

The district collapsed after fierce battles between the Taliban and thegovernment forces, he said, adding that the two sides also sustained heavycasualties.

Kohistan is now the third district in the province under the grip of theTaliban.

On the other fronts, armed opponents have also launched major offensives onTashkan, Raghistan and Shuhada districts of the province over the past fourdays.

The Taliban have controlled Badakhshan’s Wardoj and Yamgan district forfour years.