Clashes With Afghan Military: 55 Taliban Killed, 90 Injured

JAKARTA - Afghan security forces, with the help of air strikes, claimed to have succeeded in repelling a Taliban attack in the center of the province directly bordering Tajikistan in the north, Sunday, July 11 local time.

The Taliban attack is the latest in a series of attacks that have seen insurgents seize territory in Afghanistan, as US-led foreign forces are in the final stages of troop withdrawal after nearly 20 years of fighting.

"The enemy's offensive attack was thwarted, and they suffered an unprecedented and heavy loss of life, resulting in 55 enemy soldiers being killed and 90 injured," said Takhar province governor Abdullah Qarluq, citing Reuters Monday 12 July. Reuters could not independently confirm this information.

More than a dozen Taliban fighters were killed in an air strike by the Afghan Air Force on a hideout on the outskirts of the central Takhar province of Taluqan, the Afghan Defense Ministry said on Twitter.

"The Taliban attacked Taluqan from four directions last night (Saturday), but faced stiff resistance from security forces and the (local) community," Khalil Asir, spokesman for Takhar Police Command, told Reuters.

Taluqan is just the latest provincial capital to come under Taliban pressure. Earlier this week, the Taliban entered the capital of the western province of Badghis, seized police stations and security facilities and attempted to take over the governor's office before special forces pushed them back.

The Taliban have continued to carry out a series of attacks to seize territory in Afghanistan in recent weeks, as US-led foreign forces have stepped out. The Pentagon believes that after taking dozens of district centers, the Taliban will attack provincial centers.

Separately, clashes also occurred in southern Afghanistan. India said on Sunday it had temporarily repatriated officials from its consulate in Kandahar, a major city in southern Afghanistan.

"Due to heavy fighting near the city of Kandahar, India-based personnel have been brought back temporarily," Arindam Bagchi, India's chief foreign ministry spokesman, said in a statement.

For information, Taliban officials said on Friday that the Sunni Muslim insurgent group has controlled 85 percent of Afghanistan. Afghan government officials rejected this statement and called it propaganda.