The districts now held by the Taliban are Mardian in Jawsjan and Khwaja Sabz Posh in Maryab, the sources were quoted as saying by TOLOnews television channel.

The deputy head of the Jawsjan provincial council, Amruddin Danishjo, also admitted that 16 members of the security forces were killed in the armed clashes and 14 others were captured by the irregular force.

Meanwhile, the councilor of Faryab, Abdul Ahad Ail Bek, told the press that the commander of the military troops in that district surrendered to the Taliban, along with his personnel, when he did not receive reinforcements.

Earlier this month, on June 2nd, the Taliban movement occupied three security posts in the Afghan province of Nangarhar after a series of attacks.

According to the Afghan Ministry of Defense, in the last two months over 30 districts were seized by the Taliban from the Army.

The armed clashes occur when conditions are being prepared to implement a deal between the Taliban movement and the Western powers, which envisages the departure of the occupation forces from this country before next September.

US military forces attacked Afghanistan in October 2001, under the pretext of fighting the al-Qaeda group considered to be terrorist.

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