Taliban attempts to overrun district in western Afghan province foiled as gov't sends reinforcement

KABUL, March 12 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants' attempts to overrun Bala Murghab district in Afghanistan's western Badghis province have been foiled after the government sent reinforcement to pound the militant group's positions, said an army statement Tuesday.

According to the statement, a unit of Special Force made up of 200 commandos arrived to the beleaguered Bala Murghab district and forced the militants to flee the area, leaving 14 dead and over a dozen injured behind.

Afghan defense ministry has also confirmed fighting in Bala Murghab district, saying in a statement Tuesday that airstrikes conducted by A-29 fighting planes targeted the Taliban hideouts in the troubled district killing and injuring more than two dozen insurgents.

The government forces would continue to chase the insurgents until the area is cleansed of them, the statement added.

Taliban fighters launched a surprise operation against an army unit in Bala Murghab district on Sunday night, killing 16 soldiers and injuring over a dozen others, head of Badghis provincial council Abdul Azizbig confirmed on Monday.

Azizbig also warned that the district may collapse if the government fails to send reinforcement.

Meanwhile, sources on condition of anonymity claimed that more than 20 army soldiers were killed, 10 wounded and 28 others captured by the Taliban after a large number of militants attacked an army camp in the restive Bala Murghab district on Sunday night.

Taliban militants also attacked police checkpoints in Bala Murghab's neighboring Muqur district late Monday night, killing 11 police personnel, according to local media outlet ToloNews.