Government forces have cleared Badakhshan’s Nusay district of Taliban in military operation which is ongoing for the past 15 days, local officials said on Wednesday.

Badakhshan Police Chief Saber Aryan said Taliban has suffered heavy casualties in the military operation.

He said Taliban are under siege by government forces in a rural village in the district.

“We have tightened surroundings of the villages in Nusay where Taliban still poses threat to security. The reason behind a delay in the military operation is that we want to protect civilians during our mission,” he said.

The police chief said the operation will continue until all threats are removed from the district.

“Our operation will continue until all threats against Nusay district are removed. We have strictly ordered our forces not to let the Taliban to pose threat to security of the district,” he added.

Badakhshan officials meanwhile said some parts of the province are still under threat by the Taliban.

“We have plans on hand to conduct military operations in other areas too,” said Akhtar Mohammad Khairzada, deputy governor of Badakhshan.

Meanwhile, a commander of public uprising forces, Nazir Mohammad Niazi, said to gain a good result from military operations, there is a need for government to call for the help of public uprising forces.

“Government does not have sufficient troops to maintain the safety of the areas therefore it will be good if it calls for the help of public uprising forces in this respect,” said Niazi.

Military affairs analysts in Badakhshan said Taliban’s main hideout is in Wardooj district in the province therefore, they said they call on government to launch military operation for clearing of this part of Badakhshan. 

Nusay is the link to Maymi, Kof Aab, Sheki and Khwahan districts. The only bridge into these districts, which share a border with Tajikistan, is located in this district and all these districts get supplies through Nusay.