Taliban under attack

Afghanistan’s government launched a ground and air offensive yesterday to flush out Taliban insurgents from a key area in the northwestern province of Badghis, which is close to the border with Turkmenistan, officials said.

The focal point of the operation was the Bala Murghab district where, a few days ago, the Taliban had captured dozens of government forces in addition to overrunning several parts of the district, which serves as a gateway to the northern areas for the insurgents. Several government troops fleeing the Taliban rampage crossed into neighbouring Turkmenistan, officials said.