KABUL – Eight districts in northern Faryab province in Afghanistan are atrisk of falling into the hands of Taliban insurgents who recently captureda highway police post and caused casualties to eight police, a publicrepresentative said on Saturday.

Sayed Abdul Baqi, a provincial council member, told Pajhwok Afghan Newsthat the security situation in Faryab was critical as compared to otherprovinces.

“Eight districts including Kohistan, Garziwan, Balcheragh, Almar, Ghormach,Khwajah Sabzposh, Sherin Tagab and Dawlatabad face collapse,” he said.

He said security personnel in these districts were inadequate as half ofthem were said to be ghost force.

A resident of Qaisar districts, Abdul Baqi, said militants held a highwaypolice post after a clash in Nahrain area on Friday night, killing four andwounding as many police.

Faryab police chief refused to comment about the fall of the police postand casualties. But those wounded in the incident said that the four slainpolicemen included a commander.

Khair Mohammad, one of the wounded policemen, said around 300 Talibanfighters stormed their post firing rockets and machineguns last night. Hesaid he lost four colleagues including commander, Hayatullah, to the clash.

Mohammad Daud, another policeman who survived the attack, said that two oftheir colleagues including the post commander were killed with night visionrifles.

Another two policemen were killed and four others wounded as the gun battlewent on until troops from a nearby Afghan National Army (ANA) base arrivedand pushed the insurgents back, he said.