The Afghan security and defense forces spokesman on Sunday said that 967 Talibs have been killed and over 500 more have been wounded in operations by Afghan forces in various areas over the last four days.

Gen. Ajmal Shinwari said that clashes are underway in over 20 provinces and nine cities face a high level of threat.

Afghan forces retook control of Sorkh-e-Parsa district in Parwan and Mailstan district in Ghazni in the last 12 hours, according to the Interior Ministry. But the center of Chakhansur district in Nimroz once again fell to the Taliban, according to sources.

“There is a possibility to improve the situation. We assure you--I say as a military general--that all Afghanistan territories will be defended with courage,” he said.

Heavy clashes have been reported on the outskirts of the city of Taluqan in the northeastern province of Takhar, raising concerns of residents who say the city has been under attack by the Taliban for the last two weeks.

“The situation is worsening every day. Shops have remained closed. Mortars and Taliban firing have hit people’s homes,” said Abdul Karim, a Taluqan resident.

“The government should make an effort to take the city out of this situation,” said Naqibullah, a Taluqan resident.

The head of Takhar provincial council, Wafiullah Rahmani, said the people have supported the government forces in their campaign to prevent the fall of the city to the Taliban.

“Takhar residents are dignified people. They will defend their territory. As you see, I am the people’s representative and want to be with this people,” Rahmani said.

In Kunduz city in the north, residents said the situation is dire and they fear attacks by the Taliban.

“My home is in the Number One area in Kunduz city. I was displaced. My home was hit by a mortar. Two members of our family were martyred and four more were wounded,” said Farzana, a Kunduz resident, who was injured in the incident.

“Besides concerns about the insecurity on the outskirts of Kunduz city, another deep concern is about Taliban drones that drop bombs in some areas. We ask international organizations and the Afghan Air Force to clear Kunduz air of this parasite,” said Rabbani Rabbani, member of the Kunduz provincial council.

Local sources report heavy fighting between government forces and the Taliban in Nijrab district in Kapisa, almost 100 kilometers north of Kabul.