Taliban assault underway in Afghanistan’s Jawzjan province

Taliban militants have launched an attack in the northern Afghan province of Jawzjan, attempting to run over the district headquarters and setting off heavy fighting, the provincial police chief says.

Taliban militants have launched an attack in the northern Afghan province of Jawzjan, attempting to run over the district headquarters and setting off heavy fighting, the provincial police chief says.

Gen. RahmatullahTurkistani said on Monday that a fierce gun battle was underway between Afghan security forces and the militants in Khamab district.

Turkistani added that security forces were trying to repel the assault across the troubled region.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Turkistani said that in recent days the militants had gained control of several villages nearby.

Some unconfirmed reports claim that the Taliban have seized control of the Khamab district headquarters.