The Ministry of Interior (MoI) through a statement released on Monday confirmed that Kiran Manjan district of Badakhshan has been cleared of insurgents. The district was attacked two days ago by the Taliban and taken control of.

The statement added that the Border and local police forces had launched a joint operation in the district to clear the area of insurgents. When the Taliban attacked the district, the police had to retreat, but now the district has been cleared of insurgents.

"The Taliban suffered major casualties during the course of the operation," the statement further added.

After the incident, several Parliamentarians criticized the government and summoned top security officials for questioning.

Insecurity has increased over the past few months in the province. With the 2014 elections drawing near, the insurgents have intensified their terror activities in the province.

Meanwhile, the Afghan security forces have ramped up operations across the country to clear vulnerable areas of insurgents in preparation for the upcoming 2014 elections.

There are over 350,000 Afghan soldiers fighting the insurgents across Afghanistan. Foreign troops are due to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014, after handing over full security responsibility to the Afghan forces. Though, coalition officials maintain that nearly all operational oversight has been handed over to Afghans already.