KABUL – Taliban fighters have overrun two districts in the southeasternprovince of Paktika, on the border with Pakistan, officials said on Tuesdayas heavy fighting continued across Afghanistan.

Local officials said Taliban fighters began attacking security checkpointsand the centres of Omna and Gayan districts in Paktika on Sunday, forcingAfghan security forces in the area to pull out leaving large quantities ofweapons and equipment.

“After almost two days of heavy fighting, Taliban captured both districtcentres,” provincial council member Fazel Rahman Katawazi, said, addingthat three members of the Afghan security forces were killed and a numberof others injured.

The Taliban have taken a series of district centres so far this year, manyof which have been subsequently retaken by Afghan security forces, whichcontrol areas with around two thirds of the country’s population.

On Monday, General John Nicholson, the U.S. general who commands theNATO-led Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan, said security hadimproved in 14 districts and declined in eight others this year to leavethe overall levels of government control across the country roughly stable.

In the neighbouring province of Zabul, to the south of Paktika province, 15members of the security forces were killed and 18 others were injured afterTaliban stormed the district of Atghar, provincial council member, HajiAtta Jan Haqbayan, said.

The Taliban attackers were eventually pushed back as the Afghan securityforces received air support, losing 25 killed and 20 wounded, he said.

Gul Islam Sial, provincial spokesman for Zabul, confirmed the attack andcasualties among the Afghan security forces, but provided no more details.