Afghan forces repulse major Taliban assault

KABUL, Afghanistan Afghan forces claimed on Saturday to have repulsed a major Taliban assault by hundreds of insurgents in the key northern city of Maymana, killing 27.

At least 2,000 Taliban fighters staged a coordinated assault on the provincial capital of Maymana late Friday.

"(Twenty-seven) Taliban terrorists were killed and 16 others were wounded in the clash, including Mullah Shoaib, the head of the Taliban's military commission and a number of Pakistani militants,” said Abdul Karim Yurish, spokesman for the police command.

He added that airstrikes were also conducted on the rebels.

The Taliban did not comment about the defeat but claimed more advances in southern Paktia, Paktika, and eastern Kunar provinces.

"The defensive line of the city of Sharana, the capital of Paktika province, has been defeated, and a large base called the hill of Patana (Patany Ghundey) was conquered with 8 defensive posts of the city.” tweeted Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahed.

“A large number of weapons and equipment fell into the hands of the 'Mojahedin,'” he said. “Currently, the battle is taking place in the first district of the city of Sharana and the 'Mujahideen' are advancing toward the governor's office.”

Making rapid gains in the past few days, the Taliban have now taken control of 17 of Afghanistan’s 34 provincial capitals.

Following days of heavy clashes, the insurgents captured Afghanistan’s second- and third-largest cities of Kandahar and Herat on Thursday, and advanced on several provincial capitals by early Friday, including Pul-e-Alam, capital of the eastern Logar province, which lies less than 90 kilometers (55 miles) from Kabul.