Paktia's deputy provincial governor Abdul Wali Sahi on Saturday confirmed that Janikhel district collapsed to the Taliban on Friday night.

Sahi said that the district collapsed to the Taliban with the help of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

According to Sahi the bodies of Pakistani fighters were seen lying on the battle field.

Sahi criticized government for not conducting airstrikes in Janikhel districts ahead of Friday night's clash.

Earlier district governor Abdul Rahman Solamal confirmed the fall of the district and said 30 security force members had been killed in the clash.

Solamal said that about 1,200 Taliban insurgents attacked the district.

According to the district governor the district collapsed because central government and provincial officials did not send in reinforcement troops to the district on time.

After the Taliban captured the district they torched the district governor's building and the houses of government employees and local policemen, Solamal said.

Most of the district's residents have fled the area.

The district governor also claimed many of the Taliban's fighters are Pakistanis.

In addition, Solamal said that government has not done enough to transfer wounded soldiers to hospitals.

So far there have been no reports of civilian casualties.

This comes after hundreds of Taliban stormed the district last week, resulting in an ongoing clash with security forces.

Janikhel borders Pakistan and some parts of the district have for a while been insecure.