1st LD Writethru: Taliban offensive on 2 districts in Afghan northern Jauzjan provinces triggers heavy fighting

Taliban militants launched massive offensives on Khan Aqa and Faizabad districts in Afghanistan's Jauzjan province Thursday morning, triggering heavy fighting which has been continuing, spokesman for provincial government Abdul Razaq Ghafori said.

"More than 120 Taliban rebels launched coordinated attacks against government interests in Khan Aqa and Faizabad districts Wednesday morning and the security forces retaliated and so far five militants have been killed and 20 others injured," Ghafori told Xinhua.

He also confirmed that one security personnel has been injured in the fighting which is going on.

Meantime, Zabihullah Majahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit in contact with media reported Taliban coordinated attacks on Khan Aqa, Faizabad and Aqcha districts Wednesday morning and claimed killing five police and capturing several villages.

However, the official Ghafori spurned Majahid claim, contending just one security personnel has sustained injuries and security forces would soon dislodge attacking militants from the said districts.

Faizabad, Khan Aqa and Aqcha districts were cleaned up of Taliban fighters three months ago.

Jauzjan province with Shiberghan as its capital 390 km north of Kabul has been the scene of Taliban-led increasing militancy over the past couple of years.

Taliban militants who have made a violent comeback a few years ago are presently fighting against government forces in several provinces in the north, northeast, west and southern regions of the conflict-plagued central Asian country. Endit