KABUL, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants fighting the Afghan government's security forces have overrun a key district in Wardak province, 35 km west of the national capital Kabul, local media reported Wednesday citing the provincial governor.
"The Taliban captured Nirkh district of Wardak province following a collusion on Tuesday. The security forces made a tactical retreat from the district, in the west of provincial capital Maidan Shar," Ariana News TV quoted provincial governor Abdul Rahman Tariq as saying.
Local villagers told local media that at least 30 security forces members surrendered to the militants after heavy clashes in Nirkh on Tuesday as they did not receive reinforcement.
Details about possible casualties are still forthcoming amid the absence of any official statement.
Earlier on Wednesday, Fawad Aman, a spokesman of Defense Ministry wrote on Twitter that Afghan National Army commandos were dispatched and had arrived near the district center and a military plan was underway to retake the district from the militants.
Violence lingers in war-torn Afghanistan as the U.S. and NATO troops are carrying out a pull-out plan.
About 3,500 U.S. forces and 7,000 NATO troops will be withdrawn before Sept. 11 this year, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that prompted the United States to launch a war in Afghanistan. Enditem