KABUL, Feb 26: Afghan authorities have detained a district governor and his police commander for alleged links with the Taliban after militants briefly captured the area a week ago, the government said on Monday.

The interior ministry, meanwhile, again warned Taliban fighters who have occupied a small southern town for more than three weeks to leave or face military action including air strikes.

The detained officials, from Bakwa district in the western province of Farah, were dismissed from their jobs after Taliban were able to hold the district capital for several hours before being ejected by security forces.

“They were detained over links to Taliban,” interior ministry spokesman Zemarai Bashary said of district chief Mohammad Ismail and his police chief, Haikal Khan.—AFP