Kabul:
The Taliban seized control of a district in eastern Nuristan Province on Tuesday, chasing the governor and police from the district capital, according to Afghan officials and a spokesman for the Taliban.
"The white flag of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is flying over the Want District centre, while some policemen of the puppet administration flee toward the provincial capital after slight resistance," said the Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, in a statement to news organizations circulated by e-mail. He was referring to the district more commonly known as Waygal.
The Nuristan police commander, Gen. Shams-ul-Rahman Zahid, confirmed that police had withdrawn from the capital of the Waygal District, leaving the Taliban in what he said was temporary control of the area.
"Police forces have tactically withdrawn from the district centre early this morning about 5 a.m. following harsh fighting and due to lack of ammunition, and to avoid civilian casualties," General Zahid said in a telephone interview.
"We are planning a counterattack to retake the district," he said. "We will reinforce and retake the district soon from the insurgents."
While the Taliban are present in a majority of districts in Afghanistan, the capture of administrative centres in the districts is relatively rare. Last year, the Taliban seized control of another district in northern Nuristan, Barg-e-Matal, and American troops had to be rushed in to restore it to Afghan control.
Waygal is controlled only by Afghan forces, and American troops have recently withdrawn from much of the Pech Valley in neighbouring Kunar Province, as part of a counterinsurgency strategy to concentrate international troops in population centres.
"There is no Afghan National Army or NATO forces present in the Want Waygal District for the past four years," General Zahid said.
Mr. Mujahid said the district seat was surrounded by the insurgents, who also captured 12 police officers and seized 19 truckloads of equipment and supplies.
"Recently the invaders' big General Petraeus talked about improvements in Afghanistan, but our recent successful operation has shown that our mujahideen can launch a big operation with high morale, and defeat the security forces of an entire district, which shows the falseness of General Petraeus' claims," Mr. Mujahid said, referring to the top U.S. and NATO commander, Gen. David H. Petraeus.
A spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force downplayed the Taliban's seizure of the district in Nuristan Province.
"The Taliban still retain the ability to initiate attacks in isolated areas with short term success; however, their momentum has been reversed in key areas of the country, including what had been sanctuaries in Helmand and Kandahar," said Lt. Col. John L. Dorrian. "As the size and capability of the Afghan National Security Forces continue to grow, such 'successes' will be short-lived."