KABUL- Afghan forces clashed with Taliban fighters in a provincial capitalabout 120 kilometres (75 miles) from Kabul, officials and witnesses said,prompting the defence minister to take charge of a counteroffensive.
Violence has soared in Afghanistan since US forces began their finalpull-out on May 1, as the insurgents press on with a campaign to seize newterritory.
Fierce fighting erupted late Sunday on the edge of Mihtarlam, a city ofaround 140,000 people and the capital of Laghman province.
At one point Defence Minister Yasin Zia took personal charge in the field,officials said.
“With the arrival of reinforcements, the enemy has sustained heavy blows,”Zia, a former army chief of staff, said in a video message.
The ministry said at least 50 Talibanlinkwere killed in overnight fighting.
Taliban link spokesman Zabihullah Mujahidtold AFP the insurgents captured 37 security checkpoints on the outskirtsof the city.
Casualty figures and battlefield gains can rarely be independently verifiedin Afghanistan link and both sidesfrequently exaggerate their successes and minimise losses.
An AFP correspondent reported fighting continuing in some parts ofMihtarlam on Monday, adding that hundreds of people had been displaced.
A student from Mihtarlam, who gave just his first name Zabihullah, said hewent to school after government forces assured him they had control, buthad to flee when fighting resumed.
“I’m not sure which part of the city is safe now,” he told AFP.
The attack on Mihtarlam comes as the Talibanlink push on in efforts to capture newterritory.
In recent days the insurgents have seized the districts of Nerkh andJalraiz in the province of Wardak, just 40 km from Kabul.
Wardak has long been used by militants as a gateway to reach the capitaland launch deadly attacks.
The Taliban link also captured Burka innorthern Baghlan province earlier this month after government troopswithdrew from the area.
The Taliban link campaign has spurredspeculation the militants are waiting for the Americans to complete theirwithdrawal before launching all-out assaults on Afghan cities. -APP/AFP