Afghan official: Taliban take district in northern province

KABUL – An Afghan official says the Taliban have captured another district in the northern province of Badakhshan.

Abdullah Naji Nazari, a provincial council member, says the insurgents launched a surprise attack on Thursday in the strategic Kohistanat district, which is located along a route to the provincial capital, Fayz Abad.

Nazari says no casualties were reported in the day-long assault. He added that the captured district is now the third under Taliban control in Badakhshan, which has about two dozen districts.

Army spokesman in nearby northern Balkh province, Mohammad Anif Rezaye, says reinforcements have arrived in Fayz Abad but are awaiting orders to move against the Taliban due to bad weather in the region.

Last month, the Taliban announced the start of their annual spring offensive, when they regularly launch attacks.