Afghan police: Taliban assault underway in Afghan district

KABUL – An Afghan police official says that the Taliban have launched an attack in northern Jawzjan province, trying to capture the district headquarters and setting off heavy fighting.

Gen. Rahmatullah Turkistani, the provincial police chief, says a fierce gunbattle is underway on Monday between the Afghan security forces and the insurgents in Khamab district. He says the security forces are trying to repel the attack.

Some unconfirmed reports are claiming that the Taliban have seized control of the Khamab district headquarters.

Turkistani didn’t confirm that and the Taliban have not commented on the attack yet.

Turkistani did say that the insurgents gained control of several villages nearby recently, and that Afghan forces put up no resistance.

Taliban attacks have stepped up all across Afghanistan, with the insurgents constantly expanding their footprint.