1st LD: Taliban captures district in northern Afghan province

Taliban militants seized control of Khan Abad district in Afghanistan's northern province of Kunduz on Saturday as sporadic clashes were continuing around the district center, officials said.

"Dozens of armed militants overrun the district bazaar early Saturday morning. Sporadic clashes were continuing around the district's office buildings as security forces were trying to repel the attack," Qudratullah Safi, district executive officer, told Xinhua.

The district is located some 25 km east of the provincial capital of Kunduz city. A main highway connecting Kunduz to the neighboring Takhar province passes through the district.

The Kunduz province and neighboring Baghlan and Takhar provinces have been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the government forces in the once relatively peaceful region.

The militants seized Dahna-e-Ghori district of Baghlan after a coordinated offensive earlier this month.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different areas of the country. Endit