Taliban militants fighting the government to regain power after briefly capturing the northern Kunduz city have tightened the noose around eastern Ghazn city and more than 100 militants have been killed over the past two days, a local official said.
"More than 2,000 Taliban insurgents launched massive offensive on Monday to overrun Ghazni city, but the security forces after inflicting huge casualties on militants repulsed their offensive," Mohammad Ali Ahmadi, deputy to provincial governor, told reporters at a press conference here. However, he added that fighting is continuing.
According to Ahmadi, 20 militants had been killed on Monday and 96 others have been killed since Tuesday morning.
Ahmadi also confirmed that four security personnel have been injured.
Taliban militants in their latest offensive on Ghazni city fired five mortar rounds, killing two women and injuring six more civilians, the official added.
Xinhua's reporter in Ghazni city said the sound of gunshots and explosions are heard from parts of the city.
Ghazni city, capital of Ghazni province, has been the scene of Taliban-led militancy over the past few years.
The highway connected the national capital Kabul city to the southern Kandahar and the western Herat provinces has been closed in Ghazni due to the conflict.
Ahmadi said reinforcements have arrived to bolster security forces positions against militants.
Taliban militants captured Kunduz city on Sept. 29 and evacuated the city on Tuesday Oct. 13 after suffering huge casualties at hand of government forces.
Meanwhile, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid who earlier in the day confirmed the retreat of Taliban militants from northern Kunduz city, has claimed that militants have destroyed two battle tanks and killed six soldiers in clash for control of Ghazni city, a claim rebuffed by Ahmadi as unfounded.