Kabul, July 14 (IANS): Taliban militants on Tuesday overran a strategically important valley in Afghanistan's Faryab province, a security officer said.
"More than 1,000 Taliban militants attacked Qarain valley and after suffering huge casualties including 30 deaths, they captured the area and security forces retreated," the officer told Xinhua news agency.
Three pro-government fighters also sustained injuries in the fight, he added.
However, local residents said that the fall of Qarain valley with 30,000 population would facilitate the fall of Almar district if the government fails to take proper action for the eviction of militants from the area.