Taliban Capture Key District Near Afghan Capital

Afghan security forces stand near an armored vehicle during ongoing fighting between Afghan security forces and Taliban terrorists in the Busharan area on the outskirts of Lashkar Gah, the capital city of Helmand province, on May 5, 2021. Sifatullah Zahidi/AFP via Getty Images

KABUL—Taliban terrorists captured a key district just outside the Afghan capital Kabul in central Wardak province, forcing government forces to retreat, security officials said on Tuesday.

The seizure of Nerkh district comes amid intensifying violence following an announcement by the terrorist group of a three-day ceasefire in Afghanistan for the Muslim religious holiday of Eid, starting this week.