KABUL – Taliban fighters overran a northern Afghan army base, officialssaid Tuesday, killing at least 14 soldiers with dozens feared captured andothers said to have fled in the latest blow to the country’s securityforces.

Militants gained control of the base in Ghormach district of volatileFaryab province after days of heavy fighting, according to army spokesmanfor northern Afghanistan Mohammad Hanif Rezaee, adding that 100 soldierswere on the base when it was first attacked Sunday.

“It is a tragedy that the base fell to the enemy. Some soldiers werekilled, some captured and some fled to nearby hills,” Rezaee told AFP.

Faryab MP Hashim Otaq said that 14 soldiers were killed and about 40 otherswere captured by Taliban fighters in the base, known as Chenaya.

The Taliban victory in Faryab comes days after militants launched a brazenattack on the southeastern Afghan city of Ghazni late Thursday, some twohours drive from the capital Kabul.

Tahir Rehmani — head of Faryab’s provincial council — said the base fellafter the soldiers begged for reinforcements and air support from Kabul butwere ultimately ignored.

“They were too busy with Ghazni,” said Rehmani.

Afghan security forces, beset by killings, desertions and under intensepressure, have been struggling to beat back insurgents since US-led NATOtroops ended their combat mission in December 2014.

The attack on Ghazni is the largest tactical onslaught by the Taliban sincean unprecedented truce in June brought fighting between security forces andthe Taliban to a brief stop, providing battle-worn Afghans some welcomerelief.

The city remains in government hands, officials have said, but theinsurgents appeared entrenched there Tuesday, according to residents whosaid they were burning buildings, killing civilians and firing on securityforces conducting a clearing operation. – APP/AFP