PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces, after launching counter-offensive and fierce gun battle, evicted Taliban militants from the strategically important Tala-o-Barfak district in the northern Baghlan province on Thursday, an army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Friday.

Taliban militants, in a surprise move, overrun Tala-o-Barfak district last week, putting the government forces in defensive positions, besides cutting the road linking Baghlan to the central Bamyan province.

"After fighting back we were able to evict the enemies from Tala-o-Barfak district and regain its control on Thursday evening," Rezai told Xinhua.

Only three security personnel sustained injuries, the official asserted. However, he said that dozens of militants had been killed and injured in the fight for control of the restive district.