QALA-I-NAW – The Afghan Taliban have captured areas of the Qadis districtof Badghis province, but local police denied the assertion as baseless.

A member of provincial council, Fareed Akhizai, told Pajhwok Afghan Newsthe militants overran Golchin area Monday night. Three security personnelwere killed in the clash.

A resident of the area confirmed the fall of the area. Without going intodetails, he said the security forces suffered casualties and the militantstook away a tank and three pick-ups.

Mirza Ali, the district administrative chief, said security forces hadtactically withdrawn from the area and denied the capture of militaryvehicles by the Taliban.

Another resident of the locality said militants also attacked the Qarchighiarea of the district. Members of a local uprising force left the area, saidthe inhabitant, who was unaware of casualties.

Meanwhile, the district police chief, Mohammad Hanzala, also verified thebrief fall of the area. However, he explained, it was retaken after thearrival of reinforcements.

According to local sources, about 23 security personnel and 12 militantssuffered casualties. The Langar area fell into the hands of insurgentsduring clashes in Qala-i-Naw and Qadis district late on Monday night.

But the district chief said the Langar area of the provincial capital wasunder government forces’ control.