TALIBAN FURTHER EXPANDS IN NORTHERN AFGHANISTAN

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On Saturday, Taliban fighters captured two checkpoints of the Afghan Army in Pashtun Kot district of Faryab Province in northern Afghanistan following a long siege on them, according to the Taliban news agency Voice of Jihad.

Voice of Jihad also announced that the Said district of Faryab Province is now under the full Taliban control after its members have captured 5 checkpoints of the Afghan Army and Police in Surkhab and Karez areas in Said district.

Moreover, Voice of Jihad announced that Taliban fighters attacked a checkpoint of the Afghan Army in Badghis Province in northwestern Afghanistan. 5 Afghan soldiers including a commander, Abdul Manan, were killed and 5 others were captured by the Taliban during the attack.

The northern and northeastern areas of Afghanistan have been witnessing attacks by the Taliban lately. However, so far, the Afghan Army and NATO have not taken any real measures to slow down the Taliban advance in these areas.

In a separated development, ISIS-linked news agency Amaq claimed that ISIS fighters attacked a position of the Taliban in Chaparhar district of Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan. According to Amaq, 3 Taliban fighters were killed in the attack.

Nangarhar Province is now mainly controlled by ISIS and the Taliban. It has been witnessing ongoing clashes between the two Islamic armed groups for months now.

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