Afghanistan- Taliban capture Ghazni's Andar district, MoD denies

Ali Akbar Qasimi, a lawmaker from Ghazni province, told Pajhwok Afghan News the Taliban captured Andar district on Sunday.

'People of Andar called me and said the Taliban have overrun the district, but when I asked officials they were unaware,' the lawmaker said.

His colleague from Ghazni Chaman Shah Itimadi also confirmed the Taliban had seized Andar district.

He said only capitals of other districts were in government's control and the Taliban ruled in the rest parts.

He further said if the government did not pay attention to Ghazni security, it might come under a massive attack from the Taliban again.

But Javed Ghafoor, MoD spokesman, rejected the fall of Andar district to the Taliban.

He told Pajhwok that the district building was not suitable for living in winter and needed repair, thus the administrative and military personnel were shifted to another place around three kilometers from the old building. He said security forces were in control of the old building.

On the other hand, provincial officials refused to talks about the issue.

However, the Taliban confirmed capturing the district. Their spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Pajhwok that the fighters had captured the district police headquarters and the military base. Dozens of security forces were killed and their weapons seized, he said.

pk/ma

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