A number of Dahana-e-Ghori district residents gathered in front of the Baghlan governor's office on Sunday and called on government to step up efforts to retake the district from the Taliban.

Dahana-e-Ghori residents said that they are tired of the ongoing war and urged government to clear the region of Taliban.

"Dahana-e-Ghori district is under Taliban control. Around 5,000 families who used to live in the district, are going through very difficult times in (provincial capital) Pul-e-Khumri city," said Mohammad Hashim Karam Ali, a resident of Dahana-e-Ghori district.

"People have gathered here to see how long government will deceive us. People are gathered to urge government to decide on when it will retake the district from the Taliban," said Ali Madad, another resident.

Meanwhile, Baghlan provincial council has blasted government for being "negligent" and not launching an operation to retake the district from insurgents.

Bismillah Atash, a member of the provincial council said: "We want the police chief and the national security head to come and respond to our questions. They should respond to people's questions. People are going through difficult times under Taliban rule, what does government have to say to them?"

Meanwhile, Abdul Satar Barez, the governor of Baghlan, said that security forces will launch an operation in the near future to retake the district from the Taliban.

"People are right. Local and central government have got a plan regarding Dahana-e-Ghori which will start soon," said Barez.

Based on claims made by Dahana-e-Ghori residents, the district and dozens of villages in Baghlan-e-Markazi and Pul-e-Khumri are under Taliban control, but still there is no sign of military operations being launched.