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1st LD: Afghan security forces free district from Taliban militants

Xinhua, June 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) on Tuesday recaptured a district in northern province of Kunduz seized by Taliban militants over the weekend, killing over 80 rebels, provincial government spokesman said.

"The Chardara district is under control of ANSF now. They started the operation at wee hours of Tuesday and retook the control of district bazaar in addition to parts of the district center where several government office buildings are located," spokesman Wodud Wahidi told Xinhua.

The army and police were still fighting sporadic clashes in small pockets inside the district, some 6 km west of provincial capital Kunduz city, 250 km north of Afghan capital.

Army specialists were moving slowly as they were defusing dozens of roadside bombs and landmines left by the Taliban militants, the official said, adding, "More than 80 militants have been killed and several foreign fighters were among the killed rebels."

The Taliban militants group, which ran over the district on Saturday, has yet to make comments.

The province, bordering Tajikistan, has been the scene of heavy fighting earlier this year as security forces have repelled militants, who tried to take control of several districts near the provincial capital Kunduz city. Endi