Taliban Seize Parts of North Afghanistan District

With fighting raging across Afghanistan, the Taliban has made a rare run at the Burka District of Baghlan Province in the far north. Early reports were that the district had fallen, and 10 soldiers were killed.

Some officials say only parts of Burka fell, and that local officials were able to just move to offices in other parts of the district to keep working. The provincial police confirmed a “tactical retreat” from the district, however.

Though Baghlan Province comes under attack from time to time, it is rare for Burka District to be contested. The town of Burka is small and at the base of the Hindu Kush mountains, and likely isn’t considered of much strategic value.

In addition to the troops killed in fighting, the Taliban reportedly captured 16 security forces members. Officials claimed the Taliban also suffered heavy losses, but they did not provide any numbers.