Army officials said on Friday that they have retaken the control of Janikhail district in Paktia province in a military operation by the Army’s Special Unit and police force members on Thursday evening. 

Major Gen. Abdul Wase Milad, commander of Afghan National Army’s Thunder Corps said the military operation conducted by Commando and police force members continued for few hours where they retook the control of Janikhail’s center – which fallen to the Taliban two weeks ago.

The Janikhail district is located 150 kilometers to the west of the provincial capital Gardez City. It shares a border with Kurram Agency and Parachinar regions across the Durand Line – the disputed border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The district was first collapsed to the Taliban in July 25 when a group of militants launched a coordinated attack on security outposts in this part of Paktia. 

However, the district was retaken by security forces in a days-long military operation on August 04.

But Janikhail again fell to the Taliban on August 10 – six days after it was retaken.

Security officials in the district have vowed they will not allow the collapse of the district once again. They said they have strengthened local security outposts in the area.