ASADABAD, Afghanistan, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Asadabad city, capital of eastern Kunar province, fell to the Taliban militants on Saturday, bringing the number of provincial capitals captured by the armed group to 20, locals said.
An eyewitness who refused to be named asserted that the Taliban militants entered Asadabad city around 03:00 p.m. local time and captured the city.
No local official was available to make comments on the situation.
All the provincial officials, according locals, have moved to the neighboring Nangarhar province.
Nangarhar's Shirzad district has been the scene of heavy fighting over the past two days and according to Ataullah Khogiani, the spokesman for provincial governor, 72 militants have been killed; but the claim has been rejected by Taliban.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has also confirmed the fall of Asadabad city to the armed group and in his Twitter account claimed that the government security forces had surrendered and all parts of Asadabad are in Taliban control. Enditem
