SHEBERGHAN: After capturing many areas in Khawaja Sabz Posh of Faryabprovince, the Taliban have besieged the district headquarters. The Talibanblocked all the routes leading from provincial capital Maimana city andShirin Tagab district to Khawaja Sabz Posh. The stranded security forceshave lost contact with the ground supply routes.

Taliban fighters attacked an Afghan National Army (ANA) checkpoint inKhawaja Qoshari Dwa Larai area in the district last night. The securityforces abandoned the checkpoints located between the Jumma Bazaar ofKhawaja Sabz Posh district and Kotal Kata Kam area in Maimana city. Theybelieved that the central government was not providing any assistance tothe stranded troops in the district. These areas slipped from the hands ofgovernment.Governor of Khawaja Sabz Posh, Abdullah Masoomi told Afghan media that theTaliban have captured the suburban areas of the district. Enough securityforces existed in the district, he said.

They would fight the Taliban till the last drop of their blood, he vowed.It was learnt that the district and police headquarters and few checkpointsare currently under the control of the security forces. The remaining partsof the district have fallen into the hands of Taliban. The district couldslip into the control of Taliban at any time.The Taliban have captured all the routes leading provincial capital Maimanacity and Shirin Tagab district towards Khawaja Sabz Posh. They have cut offall the logistic supply routes towards the district.Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Qari Muhammad Yousaf Ahmadi said that theyhave captured all areas of Khawaja Sabz Posh.The Taliban have besieged the district headquarters, he said. The Talibanwould soon capture the entire district, he claimed. The defence ministryhas not said anything in this regard so far. Faryab is one of the restiveprovinces of Afghanistan. Most parts of the province are under the controlof Taliban. The local residents witness fierce gunfights in province everyday.Fierce clashes have been occurring in Chal Gazi and Charshanba Bazaar areasin Qaisar district over the past three days. The district bazaar has beenclosed due to insecurity. Some shops have been torched in the crossfirebetween the two sides. Hundreds of families have left their homes for saferareas.