Reinforcements are needed to push back the Taliban from parts of Takhar Province, particularly Ishkamish district, which has seen heavy clashes between Afghan forces and militants in the past few days, senior officials from the northeastern province said.   

Last week, Taliban attacked Ishkamish district from different sides, bringing their fighters from neighboring Badakhshan and Kunduz provinces.

Taliban has claimed on social media that the group has had advancements in the district. But local officials said that government forces have resisted against attacks by the militants.  

“We call on the government, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior to send more troops to Takhar so that we can fully clear the area of Taliban,” the Takhar governor’s spokesman Mohammad Jawad Hijri said.

Other reports indicate that parts of the northern province of Baghlan have also witnessed heavy clashes between government forces and the Taliban over the past week.

Insecurity in parts of the country made the agenda of the Afghan parliament on Saturday.

“Baghlan police have high morale but they lack weapons and other equipment,” said Nooria Hamidi, an MP from Baghlan.

“The roads to Deh Yak, Jaghori and Malistan districts [in Ghazni province] are under the control of the Taliban,” said Ali Akhlaqi, an MP from Ghazni.

However, the Defense Ministry spokesman Rohullah Ahmadzai said Afghan forces have been successful in their operations in different parts of the country.

“Right now, clashes are ongoing in Kijran district in Daikundi Province and the enemy has suffered heavy losses,” Ahmadzai told reports in Kabul on Saturday.

This comes as the United Nations has once again expressed concerns over an increase in civilian casualties in Afghanistan in July, calling it the deadliest month so far in 2019.