The Afghan army repelled the Taliban’s attack on the provincial capital, the governor said Reuters

Kabul/Mumbai (Reuters)-With the help of air strikes, Afghan security forces repelled an attack by Taliban militants on the provincial center of an important northern province bordering Tajikistan on Sunday, officials said.

The Taliban attack is the latest in a series of offensives by the rebels occupying Afghan territory, as the US-led foreign army is in the final stage of withdrawal after nearly 20 years of fighting.

The governor of Tahar Province, Abdullah Kalluk, said: “The enemy’s offensive was repelled and they suffered unprecedented heavy casualties, resulting in the death of 55 enemy soldiers and 90 injuries.”

Reuters was unable to independently verify his claims.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense said on Twitter that more than a dozen Taliban fighters were killed in an air strike by the Afghan Air Force on a hideout in the suburbs of Talukan, the center of Tahar Province.

“The Taliban attacked Tarukan from four directions last night (Saturday), but faced strong resistance from the security forces and (local) people,” Khalil Asir, a spokesman for the Tahar Police Command, told Reuters.

Tarukan is only the most recent provincial capital under pressure from the Taliban. Earlier this week, Taliban militants entered the capital of the western Badghis province, seized police and security facilities, and tried to take over the governor’s office before special forces repelled them.

In recent weeks, inspired by the withdrawal of foreign troops, the insurgents have once again tried to seize territory. The Pentagon believes that after occupying dozens of regional centers, the Taliban will promote the establishment of provincial centers.

In southern Afghanistan, the conflict continues.

India said on Sunday that it had temporarily repatriated its consulate officials in Kandahar, a major city in southern Afghanistan.

The chief spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India, Alinda Bach, said in a statement: “Due to the fierce fighting near Kandahar city, Indian personnel have been temporarily brought back.”

“India is closely monitoring the changing security situation in Afghanistan,” Bach said, adding that the Indian consulate in Kandahar is temporarily managed by local staff.

Taliban officials said on Friday that Sunni Muslim rebel groups control 85% of Afghanistan’s territory. Afghan government officials consider this statement to be propaganda.