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Taliban tighten grip on Afghan city of Kunduz | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Taliban fighters have seized a military hilltop site in Kunduz, tightening their grip on the northern Afghan city. | |
The capture of the Bala Hisar fortress came despite efforts by government reinforcements, backed by Nato airstrikes and special forces, to retake the city. | |
It leaves the airport as the army's last stronghold. | |
The Taliban overran Kunduz on Monday, their biggest military gain since they lost power in 2001. | |
The Taliban had blockaded the Bala Hisar fortress for two days. Hundreds of Afghan security personnel were stationed there, and their fate was not clear. | |
Late on Tuesday the Taliban tried to capture the airport as well, but two US air strikes halted their advance. | |
Clashes went on through the night around Kunduz, and the provincial hospital was reportedly struggling to cope with the number of casualties. | |
Kunduz is one of Afghanistan's largest cities, and is strategically important as a transport hub for the north of the country. | |
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since Nato ended its combat mission in Afghanistan in December, leaving a 13,000-strong residual force used for training and counter-terrorism operations. | |
Fighting has been going on in a number of other areas: | |
On Tuesday the United States acknowledged the seizure of Kunduz as a setback, but said it remained confident that Afghan security forces could retake the city. | On Tuesday the United States acknowledged the seizure of Kunduz as a setback, but said it remained confident that Afghan security forces could retake the city. |
Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, a spokesman for Kunduz's police chief, told Reuters: "Hundreds of Taliban are killed and their dead bodies are on [the] streets." | |
There was no independent confirmation, and the Taliban denied their local leader had been killed. | |
Read more on the battle for Kunduz | Read more on the battle for Kunduz |
Why were militants taking selfies? | |
The significance of Kunduz lies in its strategic location at the centre of drug-smuggling routes | The significance of Kunduz lies in its strategic location at the centre of drug-smuggling routes |
Taliban overrun Kunduz Images of how the Taliban suddenly overwhelmed the city | Taliban overrun Kunduz Images of how the Taliban suddenly overwhelmed the city |
Mullah Mansour's battle to be Taliban leader After all the disagreements, the Taliban says it has rallied around its new leader | Mullah Mansour's battle to be Taliban leader After all the disagreements, the Taliban says it has rallied around its new leader |
Who are the Taliban? A guide to the complexities and conflicts within the militant group | Who are the Taliban? A guide to the complexities and conflicts within the militant group |
The Afghan defence ministry claimed on Tuesday that the town's police headquarters and prison had been recaptured, after militants released hundreds of prisoners when they took the city on Monday. | |
But Taliban-released video featured militants in the town showing off seized tanks, armoured vehicles, police cars and Red Cross vans. | But Taliban-released video featured militants in the town showing off seized tanks, armoured vehicles, police cars and Red Cross vans. |
An eyewitness in the city told the BBC that Taliban reinforcements had also arrived, with the situation too dangerous for locals to leave. | An eyewitness in the city told the BBC that Taliban reinforcements had also arrived, with the situation too dangerous for locals to leave. |
Residents, nervous of both the Taliban and the possibility of street-fighting in the battle for the city, are largely staying indoors. | Residents, nervous of both the Taliban and the possibility of street-fighting in the battle for the city, are largely staying indoors. |
The Taliban's new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, said the government should admit defeat. | The Taliban's new leader, Mullah Akhtar Mansour, said the government should admit defeat. |
In Kabul, members of parliament called for President Ghani to resign. The head of Afghan intelligence was called to parliament to explain what went wrong in Kunduz. | |
The assault on Monday was swift and took Afghan forces by surprise. | The assault on Monday was swift and took Afghan forces by surprise. |
As darkness fell, heavily armed fighters crossed fields to attack the city from multiple directions. | |
They quickly overwhelmed several of the police checkpoints defending the perimeter of the town before moving into the centre. | |
Kunduz province has seen a number of attacks since April, with the Taliban joining forces with other insurgents. | Kunduz province has seen a number of attacks since April, with the Taliban joining forces with other insurgents. |
Are you in Kunduz? Have you been affected by the violence in Afghanistan? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you in Kunduz? Have you been affected by the violence in Afghanistan? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |