SARI PUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants have overrun seven checkpoints in the strategically important Mirza Olang area of Afghanistan's northern Sari Pul province, a local official said Saturday.
"Taliban militants in an overnight operations captured seven police checkpoints in Mirza Olang area, forcing security forces to retreat," provincial police chief Khalilullah Dastyar told Xinhua.
Meantime, another official on the condition of anonymity said that the armed militants captured Mirza Olang area Friday night.
The strategically important Mirza Olang district was captured by anti-government militants some two months ago during which dozens of people were killed and hundreds of others left the area for safer places.
If the militants were able to control Mirza Olang area, they would be able to influence the provincial capital Sari Pul and the neighboring Sayad and Kohistanat districts, local observers believe.
