Government buildings in the town were under attack and reinforcements had been ambushed, the Taliban said in a statement, warning residents to stay clear of the fighting. (File Photo)
Taliban fighters on Wednesday cut the highway linking the Afghan capital to the southern city of Kandahar, following an attack on the main town of Wardak province to the west of Kabul, officials said. The attack on Maidan Shahr, about 45 km (28 miles) from the capital, follows a series of assaults on provincial capitals in recent months as Taliban militants step up their insurgency aimed at toppling the Western-backed government in Kabul.
Watch What Else Is Making News
Fighting was continuing just outside the town, and the main highway was blocked, said Abdul Rahman Mangal, a spokesman for the provincial governor.
Government buildings in the town were under attack and reinforcements had been ambushed, the Taliban said in a statement, warning residents to stay clear of the fighting.
Last month, after pushing into the city of Tarin Kot, in the central Afghan province of Uruzgan, fighters also managed to get into Kunduz in the north and Lashkar Gah, the capital of southern Helmand province, threatening to overrun security forces.
CitiesKarnataka seer, accused of sexual assault, arrested
Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatris: The usual, not-so-unusual suspects
EntertainmentWhen a silly suggestion about Dil Se angered Mani Ratnam: 'How can Shah Rukh Khan hug Manisha Koirala and imagine Malaika Arora?'
EntertainmentGood Luck Jerry: Deepak Dobriyal’s performance turns the tables on Aanand L Rai’s problematic protagonists
TrendingNagaland minister Temjen Imna Along tweets photo of dinner served in train and it will make you nostalgic
TrendingAnother breakup for Leonardo DiCaprio, netizens say he doesn’t date anyone over 25
SportsAsia Cup: Lanka eliminate sloppy Bangladesh in match of emotions
SportsNot the end for Venus & Serena Williams: Childhood coach Macci
OpinionLet Ganpati come to Idgah maidan, helped by Muslims
ExplainedIMF $2.9-bn loan to Sri Lanka: What happens now
LifestyleLeonardo DiCaprio and Camila Morrone part ways: A timeline of their relationship
TechnologySamsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review: Stylish, unique, but is it for you?
SportsAsia Cup: Lanka eliminate sloppy Bangladesh in match of emotions
SportsNot the end for Venus & Serena Williams: Childhood coach Macci
SportsTransfer News Deadline Day Live
TechnologySamsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 review: Stylish, unique, but is it for you?
TechnologyIIT Guwahati researchers develop edible coating to preserve produce
TechnologyiPhone 14 will not have these features
LifestyleLeonardo DiCaprio and Camila Morrone part ways: A timeline of their relationship
TrendingNagaland minister Temjen Imna Along tweets photo of dinner served in train and it will make you nostalgic
TrendingAnother breakup for Leonardo DiCaprio, netizens say he doesn’t date anyone over 25
TrendingKing Cobra hides inside a car, travels about 200 km with a Kerala family. Watch rescue video
TrendingMan surprises son with a dog, boy can’t believe it’s real at first. Watch
TrendingTiger retreats seeing raging bull, leaves netizens shocked. Watch video
Grand rally today to celebrate UNESCO tag for Durga Puja
IMD conducts lecture series on weather, climate science for students, teachers
Grain-lifting tender scam: Former Punjab minister Ashu sent to Patiala jail due to ‘security reasons’
Goa Police inspects Phogat’s farmhouse; kin bat for CBI probe
Peek into the past: Srikanth gives a glimpse of his glory days with Japan Open win over Lee Zii Jia
Uttar Pradesh sees driest June-to-August period in 122 years
Why Suryakumar Yadav is bigger than Team India’s Big 3
Masked men vandalise church in Tarn Taran village, set pastor’s car on fire
Punjab transfers 21 IPS, 33 PPS officers; 5 ADGP-rank officers get new postings
2 killed after being hit by ‘speeding car’ in Rajkot, driver flees