An intense battle north of Kandahar ended overnight Wednesday, with coalition troops declaring victory over a group of Taliban fighters.

Canadian troops and their NATO and Afghan allies fought insurgents for three days in Arghandab, a strategic district that acts as a buffer between volatile northern Afghanistan and the relatively peaceful city of Kandahar.

After the battle north of Kandahar, a shura was held Thursday in Arghandab, Afghanistan.
(A.R. Khan/Canadian Press)

On Thursday morning, the sounds of gunfire and explosions ended and Afghan Gov. Asadullah Khalid toured through the district, declaring that all insurgents had been driven out.

The CBC's Carolyn Dunn said the governor's tour was a bit of a "photo op" for journalists in the area, as it would be very difficult to know for sure if all insurgents had fled Arghandab, a large district with many houses and compounds where people could easily hide.

About 300 militants were believed to be holed up in the district when coalition troops and Afghan police and soldiers moved in Monday. According to NATO officials, at least 50 Taliban fighters were killed and 50 more wounded during the battle.

At least one Afghan soldier and three police officers were also killed.

Canadian Forces spokesman Maj. Eric Landry on Tuesday called the area a "vital ground" for coalition troops and insurgents.

Dunn said coalition forces want to keep the district under control because it's a gateway into populous Kandahar, where many lives could be lost if insurgents took over.