Afghan government troops retake Taliban-controlled district

PanARMENIAN.Net - Afghan security forces retook control of the Ghormach district in the northwestern province of Faryab Saturday, October 24, after it was overrun by the Taliban several days ago, the Associated Press reports.

Baryalia Basharyar, deputy provincial police chief of Faryab, said that government forces raised the Afghan flag over the district headquarters Saturday morning after a three-day air-and-ground offensive.

Basharyar also confirmed that Ghormach district police chief Abdul Majid and 12 other policemen had been killed after they were captured alive when the district fell to the Taliban on October 18.

"Commander Majid, the brave police chief, didn't leave his stronghold to the enemy until he was wounded and captured by the Taliban," said Basharyar.

Dawlat Waziri, spokesman for the Afghan Defense Ministry said that government forces were still clearing the district center of pockets of Taliban resistance.