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Afghan towns recaptured

KABUL: Afghan and coalition forces took back a second town in the southern Helmand province from Taliban militants on Wednesday, said the Defence Ministry. The forces regained the town in Garmsir district, the Ministry said in a press release. The troops did not encounter resistance in the process as the insurgents had fled, it said. On Tuesday, Afghan and coalition forces had reoccupied another town, at the centre of Nawa district, also in Helmand. The Taliban captured the two towns on Monday, apparently to show they had the ability to control some major parts of this war-weary country. However, they suffered a loss of nearly 800 fighters since 11,000 coalition and Afghan forces launched Mountain Thrust Operation in southern Afghanistan in mid-May. It is the second time that the Taliban militants temporarily took control of districts. About two months ago, some militants occupied the Chora district in the Uruzgan province, but soon lost it after a bloody fight. — Xinhua

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