KABUL – 7 Provincial cities of Farah, Faizabad, Trinkot, Kunduz, Maimanaand Pul-e-Khumri are under pressure by the Taliban but said governmentforces are ready to defend these cities.

Twenty-two security force members were meanwhile killed in heavy clasheswith the Taliban in two districts of central Ghazni province, members ofthe provincial council confirmed on Wednesday.

In addition, five other security force members were wounded.

The clashes started on Tuesday night after dozens of Taliban insurgentsattacked Zana Khan and Jaghato districts of the province, a member of theprovincial council Hussain Reza Yousufi said.

“Yes. As you said a few cities are under pressure. But remember that citiesare safe. We have carried out 14 military operations today which are indistricts not in cities,” Defense Ministry deputy spokesman MohammadRadmanish said at a press conference on Wednesday.

Kunduz residents said the Kunduz-Baghlan highway is closed to traffic.

“Security of highways has worsened recently. Today (Wednesday) we witnessedthat the Kunduz-Baghlan highway was closed by the Taliban. We askgovernment to ensure the safety of highways,” said Bashir, a resident ofKunduz.

“Taliban militants are in Kunduz and establish check points often and stopvehicles and commit murders. We ask government to pay serious attention tothis matter,” claimed Hamid, a resident of Kunduz.