The Shebkoh Qala-e-Kah district in Farah province, in Afghanistan’s west, fell to the Taliban following a coordinated attack by insurgents on Monday night but the area was retaken by security force members after few hours, the Ministry of Interior confirmed.

“A massive attack was launched in Farah and the district was evacuated for one to two hours but the security forces pushed back the Taliban from the district,” the deputy interior minister for security, Gen. Murad Ali Murad, said at a press conference on Tuesday.

According to tribal elders, a lack of security forces was the reason for the collapse. 

“Lack of personnel and trained officers is the reason why the district collapsed. The insurgents entered the district for two hours and have destroyed military facilities,” Abdul Satar Husaini, a tribal elder said.

Osman Farahi an MP from Farah province meanwhile said the presence of the Taliban’s leader in insecure parts of the province is also a reason why the district fell to the Taliban.

“I have told security officials that (Taliban’s leader) Mullah Haibatullah has come to Farah and one of the reasons behind the collapse of the district is this issue and it should be considered serious,” said Farahi.

Farah residents meanwhile said in the past week telecommunication companies have been shut down in the province and they cannot report insecurity incidents to government.