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Fighting is now raging in 26 of the country's 34 provinces, the
officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Casualties
were "shockingly high", one added.
The government says clashes over territory have increased as the
United States pushes on with an operation to withdraw all its
remaining troops by Sept. 11.
The Taliban seized Shahrak district of western Ghor province on
Monday and forced Afghan troops to retreat to nearby villages
after a heavy firefight, local officials said.
A powerful car bomb targeting a police headquarters in the Khas
Balkh district of Balkh province killed at least four people and
wounded 50 more including civilians on Sunday, officials said.
On the same day, Taliban fighters stormed the Qaisar district of
northern Faryab province, killing and wounding dozens of Afghan
security forces, a police official said.
Government troops have launched an operation to recapture a
strategic district of Nerkh of Wardak province that lies less
than an hour's drive from the capital Kabul, a defence ministry
official said.
"In the past 24 hours, there were unfortunately 157 casualties
among forces," one senior official said on condition of
anonymity because they were allowed to speak to media.
Political talks between the government and the Taliban have
largely stalled as Washington pulls its troops out 20 years
after U.S. bombing forced the Taliban from power.
Both sides have accused the other of provoking and failing to
halt attacks against civilians.
(Reporting by Kabul Bureau, Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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