Afghan forces retake northern district hours after it fell to Taliban

Kabul: Afghan security forces regained control of Khan Abad district, Kunduz province which was seized by Taliban militants, police said on Sunday.

"The security forces launched a counter-attack on Saturday afternoon and forced the Taliban out of district centre by the night," provincial police Chief Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh told Xinhua news agency.

About 23 militants were killed and over 30 injured during the clashes since Saturday morning when the Taliban overran the district centre in the east of the provincial capital Kunduz city.

They seized control of government office buildings.

A main highway connecting Kunduz to the neighbouring Takhar province also passes through the district.