AKIPRESS.COM - A pitched battle between Afghan troops and the Taliban in Faryab Province led to the destruction of power lines bringing in electricity from Turkmenistan, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported March 5.

The battle in Davlat Abad District began overnight March 4 and lasted until 3pm March 5, reports Central Asia Online.

During the fighting, a Taliban rocket knocked out a power pylon, interrupting the supply of Turkmen power to various parts of northern Afghanistan. Workers will restore electricity soon, said Seyit Abdulhamid, director of the Faryab provincial power company.

Maimana city, Davlat Abad and Shirin Tagab districts, and other towns presently have no electricity, Andkhoy District chief Sultan Sanjar told RFE/RL. It is the first time the Taliban have attacked an infrastructural facility in the north and thus affected civilians, he said.