Afghan Troops Retake Northeastern District From Taliban

Afghan officials say government forces have regained control of a district in the northeastern province of Badakhshan.

The Interior Ministry announced on June 21 that security forces reestablished control of the Yamgan district, which fell into Taliban hands early this month.

Badakhshan's police chief, General Baba Jan, said a member of the security forces was killed and four others injured in the battle with the militants.

He also said more than 100 rebels were killed or wounded.

"We have deployed enough forces in the district and a clearance operation is ongoing to wipe up the area from insurgent threats," Baba Jan added.

The Taliban confirmed that they had lost most of the sparsely populated district.

With reporting by dpa and AP