Massive Taliban offensive repulsed in Afghan city

Afghan security forces repulsed a massive Taliban offensive in the western city of Farah on Tuesday after two days of fierce fighting, a senior army officer said.

"The enemies, after leaving 14 bodies behind, have retreated from around Farah city and the government security forces are chasing them," General Mir Assadullah Khan Kohistani told Xinhua news agency.

Hundreds of Taliban militants launched the offensive on Farah's provincial capital Farah city, 695 km west of Kabul, on Monday but they met tough resistance from the government forces, the official said.

However, he admitted that three security personnel had been killed and six others injured during the counter-attack.

Cleanup operations have been continuing in the area to kill or capture the insurgents and ensure lasting peace there, the official stressed.

Meanwhile, the head of Farah's Provincial Council Farid Bakhtawar told the media on Tuesday that hundreds of armed militants attacked Farah city from six directions on Monday morning and the security forces repulsed the militants.

"If the militants were able to consolidate their positions in Farah, they could easily destabilise the neighbouring Herat, Nimroz and Helmand provinces," Bakhtawar warned.

Governor of Farah province Asif Nang confirmed the Taliban attack on Farah but added the "enemy's malicious design" has been foiled.

The Taliban group, which launched its so-called annual spring offensive on April 24, has attacked the northern Kunduz province and left scores of people, including militants, security personnel and civilians, dead.