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Afghan Taliban give a big blow to government at start of spring offensive

Afghan Taliban give a big blow to government at start of spring offensive

KUNDUZ: Taliban fighters seized a district centre in northern Afghanistanon Saturday, while a bomb at an army base in the southern province ofHelmand killed at least five people. The latest violence came as insurgentspushed ahead with a spring offensive.

Fighters captured the go­­vernor’s house and police headquarters in AqTapa, in the Qala-e Zal district of Kunduz province and Af­­g­hangovernment forces were fighting to drive them out, said Sayed AssadullahSadat, a provincial council member.

The Taliban’s main spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said fighters had captureda police headquarters, 10 security check posts and a market in Qala-e Zal,north of Kunduz city.

At the other end of the country, in Helmand, insurgents launched a vehiclebomb attack on a military base in Nad-e-Ali district, killing fourcivilians and a soldier, according to a statement from the provincialgovernor’s office.