Afghan forces say Taliban being driven out of the western city Qala-e-Naw

Afghan troops have recaptured government buildings in a western city which was attacked by the Taliban, officials say.

On Wednesday, the Taliban entered Qala-e-Naw, the first direct assault on a provincial capital since the US began pulling out its last troops.

Air strikes were used and special forces deployed to push the fighters back, Reuters news agency said.

The Taliban have been making gains as the US and allies pull out.

“The enemy suffered heavy casualties and now we are advancing and driving the enemy out,” special forces commander Sayed Nezami said, according to Reuters.

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Interior Affairs said the city had been cleared of Taliban fighters and that it was now fully under the control of Afghan security forces, according to a report by the Khaama Press News Agency.

A news report by Tolo also quoted the provincial governor as saying the Taliban had been “pushed back from several parts of the city”.

The vast majority of remaining foreign forces in Afghanistan have left ahead of an 11 September deadline, leaving the Afghan military completely in charge of national security.

Source: BBC News