Taliban shadow Governor of Faizabad killed during clashes in Afghanistan

Mawlawi Ahmadshah, Taliban's shadow governor for Faizabad district of northern Jawzjan province has been killed by security forces when they retaliated to dozens of Taliban insurgents who attacked the village.

Sayra Shekib Sadat, provincial governor of Jawzjan confirmed that,"Mawlawi Ahmadshah, Taliban shadow district governor for Faizabad district of northern Jawzjan province and four other insurgents were killed in the clashes."

The clashes took place in Muradyan village of the Faizabad district of the province after dozens of Taliban insurgents attacked the village and clashed with security forces, Tolo news quoted Sadat as saying.

"Taliban suffered heavy casualties in the clashes which started on Sunday and continued till Monday late night," Sadat said.

The Taliban have not yet commented over the attack.

A number of villages in Jawzjan have fallen to Taliban insurgents in the past few days and government officials were concerned about an increasing security threats in parts of the northern province.

Member of Jawzjan Provincial Council, Sher Mohammad Noor, said the Bala Mardiyan village in Faizabad district in the province was fallen to the Taliban on Friday evening.

Governor Sadat has warned that "the center of Jawzjan's Mardiyan district was under Taliban siege and that it will fall to the militants, if military operation is not conducted in the area."

A provincial council member said, roads to Mardiyan district are closed to traffic due to an increasing threat by militants.

Meanwhile, Jawzjan governor's office said the Taliban has suffered losses in recent clashes with government forces in parts of the province.

Mohamamd Reza Ghafoori, spokesman for Jawzjan governor, said they are not aware about the collapse of the village to militants.

However, he said that a local people outpost in Jangal Aregh in Mardiyan district and two other check posts in Kala Shakh village in Aqcha district have fallen to the Taliban recently.

The spokesman said that Obaidullah, designated district governor of Taliban for Qarqeen district in Jawzjan was killed during a clash with Afghan forces.