Afghan government retakes district after 10 years of Taliban rule

Afghan security forces recaptured Nawa district in Afghanistan's eastern Ghazni province and established government control there after 10 years of Taliban rule, an official said on Saturday.

"Units of national security forces after 13 days of fierce operations evicted Taliban militants from Nawa district and established government control there for the first time in the past 10 years," deputy to provincial government, Mohammad Ali Ahmadi told reporters in provincial capital Ghazni city.

During the operations, 173 militants were killed and a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including 200 anti-personnel mines were discovered and defused, Xinhua news agency cited the official as saying.