KABUL: At least 23 members of an Afghan Armys special unit which contains more than 100 Taliban militants have been killed as fierce clashes continued with the Afghan security forces in the provinces of Faryab, Herat and Farah over the past three days, officials said.

The clash took place in Dawlat Abad district after the commandos and local troops launched a clearing operation, according to TOLO News. The security forces have retreated from the centre of the district following the heavy clashes are now stationed in Qaramqol district, the official said.

The Taliban militants, since the withdrawal of the US-led forces from Afghanistan on May 1, have stepped up activities and captured over a dozen districts, attempting to overrun the northern Faryab province, an army spokesman said on Thursday.

Dawlatabad district has been changed hand to hand and currently is in government control, the spokesman said, adding that operations are underway to evict the militants from Qaisar district.

According to a local observer, if the Taliban is successful in capturing Faryab province, the group could tighten the noose around Mazar-I-Sharif, the largest city in Afghanistan's northern region which borders Uzbekistan. Similarly, the Taliban fighters have intensified operations in Herat and the neighbouring Farah provinces bordering Iran.

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