Taliban enters Afghan provincial capital, fighting continues

Kabul, July 7 (IANS) Taliban militants entered Qala-e-Naw city, the capital of Afghanistan's western Badghis province on Wednesday as fighting continued, a top official said.According to the official, Taliban fighters entered the city after capturing police headquarters on Wednesday morning and fighting was going on for the control of Qala-e-Naw city, reports Xinhua news agency.Another official also confirmed the development, saying the Taliban militants "after capturing all the districts in the restive Badghis province" entered Qala-e-Naw city.He also asserted that the prisoners availing opportunity had also escaped the jail from provincial capital Qala-e-Naw.Badghis governor Hasamudin Shams said that "enemies entered Qala-e-Naw" and fighting erupted.If captured, Qala-e-Naw would be the first provincial capital overrun by the Taliban militants to consolidate position in conflict-battered Afghanistan.Taliban militants have reportedly captured more than 100 districts since the start of the US-led forces withdrawal from Afghanistan on May 1.
--IANS ksk/