The Taliban captured a strategic district Maymay which lies along the Tajikistan border in northern Badakhshan province of Afghanistan, Tolonews reported. The town was earlier considered as a relatively secure district in the province.  

Reports indicated several security forces members, including the district police chief and the district intelligence chief, were killed in the Taliban’s offensive. The insurgent also set ablaze the district governor headquarters.  

“At least 20 members of ANDSF, including the district police chief and the district intelligence officer were killed. At least 30 members of ANDSF are still missing,” Bilal Sarwary, a senior Afghan journalist tweeted quoting a security official from Badakhshan country. 

The fight is still going on on the outskirts of the district centre, the insurgent group also took away all the military equipment of ANDSF with them, TOLOnews reported members of the provincial council as saying. 

Bad weather also hampered reinforcement to come to the district, said a member of Badakhshan provincial council. “It was a major tragedy and unforgivable action. The residents of Badakhshan have frequently shared their grievances with the government,” said Jawed Mujadidi, member of Badakhshan provincial council.

An MP from the province blamed the government’s negligence that allowed the insurgent group to maintain its presence in the strategic town leading to this loss. 

Since the loss of the district, the government has been facing heat from several provincial leaders and MPs.  

“Local leaders of Badakhshan province who were able to influence and keep stability and security there were pushed to the side. Now see the result, districts fall to Taliban one after the other,” said Fawzia Koofi, a member of the Afghan government negotiating team, who is also an MP from the same province.  

Over the past few months, the Taliban has been seen increasing its presence around the district centres. The group has attacked several districts in the south and northeast of the country. 

Taliban has attacked around 50 district centres since the signing of the Doha Deal in February this year, TOLOnews reported citing sources from the Ministry of the Interior.