KABUL, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Militants loyal to the Taliban group have released 42 army personnel who were arrested during the fall of Qush Tepa district in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province days ago, an army spokesman in the northern region said on Thursday.

The released army personnel, according to Abdul Hadi Jamal, arrived in Jawzjan provincial capital Shiberghan city on Wednesday evening.

Following heavy fighting, the Taliban fighters overran Qush Tepa district on Tuesday morning, during which a number of security personnel have gone missing, obviously killed, arrested or escaped.

The Taliban militants who are in control of Qush Tepa district are yet to make comment on the reported release of the army personnel.

Officials in Jawzjan province said preparations were underway to recapture Qush Tepa district.