Supported by the public uprising forces, the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) on Saturday broke the Taliban’s siege on the outskirts of Pul-e-Khumri, the center of Baghlan province in the north, and managed to retake District 2 of the city where the two sides had fought some of the fiercest battles in the last seven days.

Some residents said Taliban still has presence in Band-e-Do and Blakha areas in the city.

Security forces on Friday retook the control of Khinjan and Doshi districts in Baghlan, but some residents said the Taliban still has check points on the way connected to Doshi and Khinjan districts.

Kelagai area has been another flashpoint between the security forces and the Taliban in the past few days. The Taliban made several attempts to infiltrate inside the city through Kelagai.

“When we arrived here, the Taliban defeated and fled the area,” said Noor Agha, an Afghan National Army officer in Pul-e-Khumri.

“Three to four thousand people from Andar Abad and some others from Parwan and Kapisa came here. Although the terrorists shown some resistance, but they were suppressed,” said MP Nasim Mudabir.

Baghlan-e-Markazi, Dahana-e-Ghori, Tala Wa Barfak, Nahrin, Borka, Jolga, Khost and Guzargah-e-Noor are among the eight districts in Baghlan that have been out of the control of the government.

“We are now on the frontline. The enemy is on the other side,” said Bahramuddin, the deputy commander of special forces in Baghlan.