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Taliban overrun district in eastern province: official

Xinhua, August 27, 2016 Adjust font size:

Taliban militants after more than one month of besiege overrun Jani Khil district in the eastern Paktia province along the border with Pakistan, member of provincial council Taj Mohammad Mangal said Saturday.

"Jani Khil, at last fell to the Taliban insurgents last night," Mangal told Xinhua.

Meantime, spokesman for provincial government Naqib Ahmad Atal disputed the report on the fall of Jani Khil district and in talks with Xinhua asserted that the government forces have made tactical retreat from the district.

During the fighting for the control of Jani Khil district over the past couple of days, according to Atal, 50 militants and five police have lost their lives and several others injured.

A Taliban notorious commander Hafiz Rashid is also among those killed last night in Jani Khil district, the spokesman contended.

According to the spokesman, fierce fighting has been continuing for the control of the embattled district in Pakia province. Enditem