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Taliban attack: Afghan forces struggle to retake Kunduz Taliban tighten grip on Afghan city of Kunduz
(about 2 hours later)
Heavy fighting is continuing in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, a day after government forces launched an attack to reclaim it from the Taliban. Taliban fighters have seized a military hilltop site in Kunduz, tightening their grip on the northern Afghan city.
Two US air strikes on Tuesday halted an insurgent advance on the airport, the army's last stronghold. The Taliban deny their local leader was killed. The capture of the Bala Hisar fortress came despite efforts by government reinforcements, backed by Nato airstrikes and special forces, to retake the city.
The militants seized a strategically important hilltop on Wednesday, as Nato special forces reached the city. It leaves the airport as the army's last stronghold.
The capture of Kunduz represents the militants' biggest victory since 2001. The Taliban overran Kunduz on Monday, their biggest military gain since they lost power in 2001.
Militant violence has increased across Afghanistan since the departure of most Western forces at the end of 2014. 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.
Clashes went on through the night around Kunduz. Within hours the Taliban had captured Bala Hisar fortress, a key military site in the area, after a two-day blockade. 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."
The BBC's Dawood Azami says the airport is now the only major stronghold left in government hands in Kunduz. There was no independent confirmation, and the Taliban denied their local leader had been killed.
The provincial hospital is struggling to cope with the number of casualties, according to reports.
Fighting is also going on in a number of other areas:
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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." 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.
There was no independent confirmation.
The Afghan defence ministry claimed 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.
President Ashraf Ghani, who completed his first year in office on Tuesday, said in a televised address that "progress" was being made in recapturing Kunduz, but that security forces had been hampered by the Taliban using civilians as human shields. 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 Taliban have laid landmines and booby traps around Kunduz, slowing the movement of convoys of Afghan army reinforcements driving to the city," a security official told AFP news agency.
In Kabul, MPs called for President Ghani to resign. The head of Afghan intelligence was called in 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. As darkness fell, heavily armed fighters crossed fields to attack the city from multiple directions.
They then captured key buildings, freed about 500 prisoners from the city's jail and forced officials and troops to retreat to the airport. 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.
Nato ended its combat mission in Afghanistan in December, withdrawing most of its troops, apart from a 13,000-strong residual force used for training and counter-terrorism operations.
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.
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