KUNDUZ: Taliban insurgents on Saturday launched a multi-pronged assault onKunduz, a strategically important city in northern Afghanistan that hascome under frequent attack since 2015.
The ongoing offensive came as the US and the Taliban continue to seek anagreement in Doha that would see thousands of American troops leaveAfghanistan in return for various security guarantees.
Officials said the fighting started around 1:00 am (2030 GMT Friday), whenTaliban militants advanced on the city from several directions.
Gunfire could be heard across Kunduz, the capital of Kunduz province, andas the day wore on, both sides claimed units from the other´s forces weresurrendering.
The Taliban said they had captured several important buildings, while theAfghan air force conducted at least five strikes and Afghan securityofficials insisted they had enough manpower on the ground to repel theattack.
The Taliban attack shows they “don´t believe in the peace opportunityprovided by the US and the government of Afghanistan,” Sediq Sediqqi,spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, said on Twitter.
“On the one hand they are talking with the US, on the other hand they areattacking people´s houses and villages. We will not leave their attackunanswered.”
According to government spokesman Feroz Bashari, at least 42 Talibanfighters had been killed and Afghan commandos had joined the counter-attack.
An AFP reporter in Kunduz earlier said small-arms and heavy-weapons firecould be heard in four areas of the city but by mid-morning all cellphonecoverage appeared to have been cut.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed Saturday´s attack had resultedin the capture of several important structures.
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“The Taliban attacked Kunduz city from several directions this morning. Weare in the city now capturing government buildings one after the other,” hetold reporters.
The US often provides air support and advice to ground troops duringcomplex operations. A spokesman for the US military in Afghanistan referredquestions to the Afghan forces.
In late September 2015, the Taliban attacked Kunduz, located near theborder with Tajikistan.
The insurgents overwhelmed local forces and briefly seized the city, and itwas only through extensive US air support that the Taliban were repelled.
The event garnered particular global attention after a US gunship struck ahospital run by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), killingdozens of patients and staff.
The fall of Kunduz also underscored the vulnerability of Afghan securityforces and played a role in stopping the pull-out of US forces underpresident Barack Obama.
Since then, the city has come under frequent Taliban attack but theinsurgents have not been able to repeat a full capture.
