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Taliban Capture 3 Districts in Takhar Province

Ayesha Tanzeem

   ISLAMABAD - The Afghan Taliban captured another district in northern
   Takhar province Monday night -- a third to fall into militant control
   in the province this month. Jawad Hejri, a spokesman for Takhar's
   governor, told VOA Afghan security forces retreated from the district
   center after two days of heavy fighting.

   However, provincial officials rejected a Taliban claim of killing 20
   security personnel, saying no one was hurt in the attack.

   The security forces withdrew to avoid civilian casualties, and
   reinforcements were being sent from the center of the province, Hejri
   told Afghan TV channel Tolo News.

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