<p>The Taliban have seized a district from Afghan government forces on the outskirts of Kabul, ahead of a three-day ceasefire agreed between the warring sides, officials said.</p>.<p>Nerkh district is around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Afghan capital in neighbouring Wardak province, which has long been used by militants as a gateway to reach the city and launch deadly attacks.</p>.<p>"Security and defence forces made a tactical retreat from the police headquarters of Nerkh district," Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, said the insurgents had captured the area on Tuesday.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/taliban-declare-three-day-afghan-ceasefire-for-eid-holiday-984323.html" target="_blank">Taliban declare three-day Afghan ceasefire for Eid holiday</a></strong></p>.<p>The Defence Ministry on Wednesday said it would launch an offensive to win back the district.</p>.<p>Large swathes of Wardak and neighbouring Logar province have been controlled or contested for years by Taliban fighters and have served as a strategic staging ground for militants hoping to enter Kabul.</p>.<p>Taliban fighters have been increasingly encircling major Afghan urban centres, spurring speculation the militants are waiting for the Americans to withdraw before launching all-out assaults on the country's cities.</p>.<p>It comes after the Taliban and Afghan government agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire to mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday starting on Thursday.</p>
<p>The Taliban have seized a district from Afghan government forces on the outskirts of Kabul, ahead of a three-day ceasefire agreed between the warring sides, officials said.</p>.<p>Nerkh district is around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the Afghan capital in neighbouring Wardak province, which has long been used by militants as a gateway to reach the city and launch deadly attacks.</p>.<p>"Security and defence forces made a tactical retreat from the police headquarters of Nerkh district," Interior Ministry spokesman Tareq Arian told <em>AFP</em>.</p>.<p>Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban, said the insurgents had captured the area on Tuesday.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/taliban-declare-three-day-afghan-ceasefire-for-eid-holiday-984323.html" target="_blank">Taliban declare three-day Afghan ceasefire for Eid holiday</a></strong></p>.<p>The Defence Ministry on Wednesday said it would launch an offensive to win back the district.</p>.<p>Large swathes of Wardak and neighbouring Logar province have been controlled or contested for years by Taliban fighters and have served as a strategic staging ground for militants hoping to enter Kabul.</p>.<p>Taliban fighters have been increasingly encircling major Afghan urban centres, spurring speculation the militants are waiting for the Americans to withdraw before launching all-out assaults on the country's cities.</p>.<p>It comes after the Taliban and Afghan government agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire to mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday starting on Thursday.</p>