Taliban overruns Afghan district

Kabul: Taliban militants after several days of fierce fighting overrun Afghanistan`s Raghistan district in Badakhshan province on Friday, a local official said.

"Taliban rebels after bloody fighting and suffering huge casualties entered the headquarters of Raghistan district on Friday, forcing security forces to retreat," Xinhua quoted the district police chief Mohammad Ishaq as saying.

Meanwhile, Abdul Rauf Baik, an elder of the district, said the fighting has been continuing outside district headquarters.

He said the Taliban insurgents have set on fire several government departments and entities.

Taliban militants who are active in Badakhshan province have yet to make comment.