TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Taliban fighters overran Yangi Qala district in the northern Takhar province on Tuesday, officials said.
Mohammed Jawad Hajari, spokesman for Takhar provincial administration, confirmed the collapse of Yangi Qala district to the militant group but refused to provide details.
Locals and an official on the condition of anonymity confirmed the fall of the restive district to the armed outfit, saying, "Taliban rebels following massive offensive overran the headquarters of Yangi Qala district in the wee hours of Tuesday, forcing the security forces to retreat."
Zabihullah Majahid who claims to speak for the Taliban outfit, in contact with media also confirmed the fall of Yangi Qala district, claiming the militants captured the headquarters of Yangi Qala district and adjoining areas late Monday night and killed 20 security personnel.
The militants, according to Majahid, also overran the neighboring Darqad district, killing and injuring a number of security personnel on Tuesday.
Although officials have yet to confirm the fall of Darqad district along the border with Tajikistan to the militant group, a local media outlet 1TVnews has reported the fall of Darqad district to Taliban fighters.
Taliban militants, whose representatives were near to ink a peace deal with the U.S. after nearly 11 months of talks in Qatar's capital Doha, have vowed to step up military operations following U.S. President Donald Trump's calling off the talks.
Trump made the move on Saturday after a deadly car bomb in Kabul on Thursday killed 12 people including an American soldier and injured 42 Afghans, all of whom civilians. Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.
Majahid flayed the U.S. decision and stated that the militant group would continue to fight unless the U.S.-led foreign forces leave Afghanistan.
Afghan observers also believe that scraping the talks for peace in Afghanistan would lead to more violence in the militancy-battered country.
