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Taliban attempt to capture key Afghan city Taliban attempt to capture key Afghan city
(35 minutes later)
The Taliban have launched an attack to invade Kunduz, capturing villages and choking off roads around the besieged, strategic city in north Afghanistan. The Taliban have launched an attack on Kunduz in northern Afghanistan, capturing villages and choking off roads around the strategic city.
The insurgents entered the city during an early morning assault, storming the regional hospital and clashing with security forces at the nearby university.The insurgents entered the city during an early morning assault, storming the regional hospital and clashing with security forces at the nearby university.
It is the Taliban’s most serious attempt yet to take the capital of Kunduz province, where there has been intense fighting since April when the movement opened up new fronts to take territory in the north. It is the Taliban’s most serious attempt yet to take the capital of Kunduz province, where there has been intense fighting since April, when the movement opened up new fronts to take territory in the north.
Kunduz, one of Afghanistan’s wealthiest provinces, is a crossroads for drugs and weapons moving between the northern provinces, and acts as a gateway to Tajikistan. A large contingency of Afghan army soldiers are likely to prevent the city from falling but the fighting will disrupt the entire north of the country. Kunduz, one of Afghanistan’s wealthiest provinces, is a crossroads for drugs and weapons moving between the northern provinces, and acts as a gateway to Tajikistan. A large contingency of Afghan army soldiers is likely to prevent the city from falling but the fighting will disrupt the entire north of the country.
Local sources said fighting could be heard inside the city from 3am. The Taliban attacked from four different districts: Chardara to the west, Aliabad to the southwest, Khanabad to the east and Imam Saheb to the north. Local sources said fighting could be heard inside the city from 3am on Monday. The Taliban attacked from four different districts: Chardara to the west, Aliabad to the south-west, Khanabad to the east and Imam Saheb to the north.
Government commanders tried to downplay the Taliban’s gains. In the late morning, Mohammad Omar “Pakhsaparan”, the commander of the Afghan local police in Khanabad, who fought alongside the army and the national police, said two sides of the city, which had previously seen fighting, had “gone silent”. Government commanders tried to downplay the Taliban’s gains. Mohammad Omar “Pakhsaparan”, the commander of the Afghan local police in Khanabad, who fought alongside the army and the national police, said two sides of the city, which had previously seen fighting, had “gone silent”.
At the same time, however, residents and local journalists said heavy clashes were continuing and the insurgents were gaining ground.At the same time, however, residents and local journalists said heavy clashes were continuing and the insurgents were gaining ground.
A western security adviser living in the city said the Taliban had captured Zakhel and Ali Khel villages on the vital highway leading south, connecting the city to Kabul and Mazar-e Sharif through Aliabad district.A western security adviser living in the city said the Taliban had captured Zakhel and Ali Khel villages on the vital highway leading south, connecting the city to Kabul and Mazar-e Sharif through Aliabad district.
He also said the Taliban had made the biggest gains in the city’s south-west, where some local communities, already disenchanted with the government, had picked up weapons and joined the insurgents.He also said the Taliban had made the biggest gains in the city’s south-west, where some local communities, already disenchanted with the government, had picked up weapons and joined the insurgents.
Most local officials and foreign NGO workers sought refuge in the airport, using the one road to it that the Taliban had not yet blocked. Photos from the city showed shuttered shops and empty streets. Most local officials and foreign NGO workers sought refuge in the airport, using the one road that the Taliban had not yet blocked. Photos from the city showed shuttered shops and empty streets.
A local reporter who had visited the frontline said poor coordination between the different government units allowed the Taliban to keep advancing. He added that the attack seemed to be a joint offensive by militants from Kunduz and nearby Baghlan and Takhar provinces. A local reporter who had visited the frontline said poor coordination between different government units allowed the Taliban to keep advancing. He added that the attack seemed to be a joint offensive by militants from Kunduz and nearby Baghlan and Takhar provinces.
As the current fighting illustrates, the government has had problems consolidating its authority in Kunduz since foreign troops pulled out in 2013.As the current fighting illustrates, the government has had problems consolidating its authority in Kunduz since foreign troops pulled out in 2013.
Much of the resistance in the province against the Taliban comes from former commanders in the western-backed Northern Alliance.Much of the resistance in the province against the Taliban comes from former commanders in the western-backed Northern Alliance.
Each commander has different backers in the political establishment, which has caused a paralysis in the government, where competing factions are loath to see one militia armed and strengthened at the expense of others, said Lola Cecchinel, a Kabul-based analyst. Each commander has different backers in the political establishment, which has caused a paralysis in the government, where competing factions are loth to see one militia armed and strengthened at the expense of others, said Lola Cecchinel, a Kabul-based analyst.
“The central government of Kabul has no clue what to do,” she said.“The central government of Kabul has no clue what to do,” she said.