The Taliban has taken over Kohistan district of Badakhshan, local officials said.



The Taliban had surrounded the district for the past two days. Officials said the district fell to the group at around 9pm local on Thursday because of the lack of reinforcement troops needed, said Abdul Rahman Talat, a member of Badakhshan provincial council.



The district collapsed after fierce battles between the Taliban and the government forces, he said, adding that the two sides also sustained heavy casualties.



Kohistan is now the third district in the province under the grip of the Taliban.



On the other fronts, armed opponents have also launched major offensives on Tashkan, Raghistan and Shuhada districts of the province over the past four days.



The Taliban have controlled Badakhshan’s Wardoj and Yamgan district for four years.