Afghanistan’s government on Saturday announced that it is imposing a nighttime curfew in 31 provinces except Kabul, Panjshir and Nangarhar as Taliban continue with their offensives and attacks across the nation.

The nighttime curfew in the 31 provinces will be effective between 10pm and 4am to prevent terrorist activities, the Ministry of Interior said.

The new measure comes as the government forces continue to fight the Taliban in 21 provinces of the country.

“If the enemy is not pushed back and Nijrab district is not retaken and the frontline comes ahead, this will pose serious threats to the center and even to Kabul,” said MP Khadija Ilham.

“Last night, there was intense fighting in Takhar. All the people have become homeless,” said Saber Shah, a resident in Taluqan city, the center of the northeastern province of Takhar.

“One offensive was launched from the direction of the western gate and the second one from the center, but the security forces managed to repel them,” said Assadullah, a resident in Taluqan.

Meanwhile, there are reports that unidentified gunmen have killed two police officers in Kalakan district in Kabul and five civilians in the Shakar Dara district in the province.

“The government still has time to do something,” said military analyst Tahir Yarghal.

“Taliban’s attacks in many provinces have faced with defeats, our security forces are advancing each day. Territories are being liberated each day and they become under the control of the government forces,” said Fawad Aman, a deputy spokesman to Ministry of Defense.

According to the statistics provided by the Afghan security agencies, the security forces have killed 262 Taliban fighters over the past 24 hours and wounded 176 more.

The Taliban has rejected the numbers.