Afghan national security forces have wrested back the Darqad district of Takhar province from the Taliban, the country's interior ministry said on Sunday.
"The district has been entirely captured by the Afghan forces, the enemy suffering heavy casualties have been defeated," the ministry said in a statement, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
In October, Militants captured Darqad, located nearly 40 miles north of provincial capital Talugan. The national defense forces launched a fresh operation to recapture the district on Friday.
"After days of clashes with the Taliban, the rule of law has been maintained. The joint forces were working to find and defuse roadside bombs and landmines in the area," provincial government spokesman Sanatullah Timor told the Xinhua news agency.
At least 20 militants, including the Taliban's shadow governor Yangi Qala and a local commander Kamal Haidari, were killed in the fighting, according to the Anadolu Agency.
Afghan forces also suffered causalities as one Afghan soldier was killed and two others injured during the two-day offensive. At least 40 militants were arrested.
Security forces also said that a clearance operation is underway in the district and neighboring areas.
"A search and clearance operation is ongoing to arrest or kill these militants hiding in people's houses," Timor said, according to AFP.
