Taliban insurgents took control of the center of Janikhail district of Paktia early Tuesday after three days of heavy clashes, sources told TOLOnews.

But local officials denied this and said that heavy clashes were ongoing between both sides near the district governor's compound.

“We still have a number of check posts in the center of the district under our control,” provincial police chief Toryalai Abdiyani said.

In the meantime, Gen. Abdul Wasi Milad, commander of 203 Tander Military Corps in Paktia said clashes have been ongoing between security forces and insurgents over the past three days.

“At least 11 Taliban insurgents have been killed so far in the clashes and a Pakistani national fighter was arrested by the security forces,” Milad said.

However, the official did not provide further details.

In the past few days, a number of districts have fallen to the insurgents.

Two days ago, the Taliban took control of Kohistan district of northern Faryab and Taiwara district of western Ghor province after heavy clashes.

The districts are still in the control of the Taliban and the government forces have not yet launched military operations to re-capture these districts.