Roundup: Afghan gov't forces recapture Qala-e-Zal district, vowing to smash militants

In the wake of fierce fighting, the Afghan forces finally regained the control of the strategically important Qala-e-Zal district in the northern Kunduz province on Monday, forcing militants to flee the area, Interior Ministry said in a statement released here.

According to the statement of Interior Ministry, the security forces launched massive offensives against armed Taliban in Qala-e-Zal district on Sunday and recaptured it Monday morning and the militants after suffering huge casualties fled the area.

The statement, however, without commenting on the exact figure of Taliban casualties and possible suffering of security forces, vowed to chase the enemies elsewhere in the country.

Meantime, police chief in the northern region General Shir Aziz Kamawal in talks with Xinhua confirmed recapturing Qala-e-Zal district, saying the security forces regained the control of district headquarters in Aqtapa area on Monday morning.

Without commenting on the number of the casualties and security forces, the official said that the security forces are busy in sweeping and defusing mines planted by militants in the area.

However, Zabihullah Majahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit in contact with media has confirmed the fight for the control of district headquarters in Aqtapa area and claimed that 15 security personnel had been killed and over a dozen others injured since Sunday.

Taliban militants overrun the strategically important Qala-e-Zal district along the border with Tajikistan couples of weeks ago.

Deputy chief of army staff General Murad Ali Murad who is in Kunduz and leading the operations against Taliban fighters, in talks with media asserted that the government forces after reestablishing control over Qala-e-Zal district have been pursuing the militants elsewhere in and around the war-battered area.

Confirming Taliban defeat in Qala-e-Zal district, the district governor Mahboubullah Saadi told Xinhua that the government forces have been chasing the insurgents elsewhere in the region.

Qala-e-Zal district, according to local analysts, has served as a safe haven for the Taliban insurgents and the militants after suffering defeat in any front in Kunduz retreated to their bastion in the district.

Regaining Qala-e-Zal district, according to local analysts, on one hand would demoralize the Taliban militants and on the other, put the government forces in commanding position in the embattled Kunduz province. Endit