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Taliban militants capture region in northern Afghanistan

Taliban’s successes can be explained by the fact that intelligence services of several countries in the region supply militants with weapons and ammunition, Afghanistan’s defense ministry says

© AP Photo/Rahmat Gul, File

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Russian Defense Minister says military threat from Afghanistan grows

ABU DHABI, June 22. /TASS/. Taliban militants have captured Dashte Barchi region in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz Province for the second time in the last few days, the region’s Governor Nasiruddin Saidi confirmed on Monday.

Saidi notified the central government about the complicated situation in the Kunduz Province. According to Tolo News, last Saturday Taliban militants captured another region in the province - Char Dara, killing 12 servicemen and injuring 16 more. Afghanistan’s security forces launched a counter-terrorist operation to regain control of the territory and oust militants from the region.

"Taliban militants surrounded around 70 servicemen in the region’s administrative center, shoot-out continues in the city," the Kunduz Province’s council chairman Mohammad Yousaf Ayoubi. "After seizing Char Dara, militants continue their offense," he added.

According to Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry, Taliban’s successes in the Kunduz Province can be explained by the fact that intelligence services of several countries in the region supply militants with weapons and ammunition. "Regional intelligence services supply insurgents [with weapons]," Defense Ministry’s spokesman Davlat Vaziri said. Afghan forces in turn complain about insufficient equipment.

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