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| Taliban tighten grip on Afghan city of Kunduz | Taliban tighten grip on Afghan city of Kunduz |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Taliban fighters have seized a military hilltop site in Kunduz, tightening their grip on the northern Afghan city. | 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. | 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. | It leaves the airport as the army's last stronghold. |
| The Taliban over-ran Kunduz on Monday, their biggest military gain since they lost power in 2001. | |
| The Taliban had blockaded the Bala Hisar fortress for two days. | The Taliban had blockaded the Bala Hisar fortress for two days. |
| The nearly 200 Afghan security personnel then abandoned the position after running out of food and ammunition, an Afghan security official told Reuters. | The nearly 200 Afghan security personnel then abandoned the position after running out of food and ammunition, an Afghan security official told Reuters. |
| Late on Tuesday the Taliban tried to capture the airport as well, but US air strikes and coalition special forces halted their advance. A special forces commander said the foreign troops - who are in Kunduz in a non-combat role - had acted in "self-defence". | Late on Tuesday the Taliban tried to capture the airport as well, but US air strikes and coalition special forces halted their advance. A special forces commander said the foreign troops - who are in Kunduz in a non-combat role - had acted in "self-defence". |
| Clashes went on through the night around Kunduz, and the provincial hospital was reportedly struggling to cope with the number of casualties. | Clashes went on through the night around Kunduz, and the provincial hospital was reportedly struggling to cope with the number of casualties. |
| Afghanistan's health ministry said more than 40 people had been killed and more than 330 injured in the fighting, the vast majority of them civilians. | Afghanistan's health ministry said more than 40 people had been killed and more than 330 injured in the fighting, the vast majority of them civilians. |
| Win-win for the Taliban - Dawood Azami, BBC World Service | Win-win for the Taliban - Dawood Azami, BBC World Service |
| The fall of Kunduz is a win-win for the Taliban, whatever happens now. Even if the insurgents are expelled in the army counter-offensive, they will leave with both booty and publicity. | The fall of Kunduz is a win-win for the Taliban, whatever happens now. Even if the insurgents are expelled in the army counter-offensive, they will leave with both booty and publicity. |
| Taliban fighters emptied the coffers of banks in Kunduz, seized weapons, including armed vehicles, and also gained a propaganda victory. | Taliban fighters emptied the coffers of banks in Kunduz, seized weapons, including armed vehicles, and also gained a propaganda victory. |
| The seizure of one of Afghanistan's most strategic and richest cities has also increased the prestige of new Taliban leader, Mullah Mansour - those within the insurgent group will see him as someone who can deliver impressive victories on the battlefield. | The seizure of one of Afghanistan's most strategic and richest cities has also increased the prestige of new Taliban leader, Mullah Mansour - those within the insurgent group will see him as someone who can deliver impressive victories on the battlefield. |
| Victory also reasserts Taliban control amid competition from the Islamic State group, which has been challenging the Taliban's supremacy in many parts of the country. | Victory also reasserts Taliban control amid competition from the Islamic State group, which has been challenging the Taliban's supremacy in many parts of the country. |
| The fact that a few hundred Taliban fighters defeated thousands of Afghan security forces is also embarrassing for the National Unity Government in Kabul, especially when the assault coincided with the first anniversary of its formation. | The fact that a few hundred Taliban fighters defeated thousands of Afghan security forces is also embarrassing for the National Unity Government in Kabul, especially when the assault coincided with the first anniversary of its formation. |
| Read more on the battle for Kunduz | Read more on the battle for Kunduz |
| Kunduz is one of Afghanistan's largest cities, and is strategically important as a transport hub for the north of the country. | 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. | 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: | Fighting has been going on in a number of other areas: |
| The BBC's Dawood Azami says the Taliban are now trying to open multiple fronts to divert the attention of the Afghan military from Kunduz and stretch them thin. | The BBC's Dawood Azami says the Taliban are now trying to open multiple fronts to divert the attention of the Afghan military from Kunduz and stretch them thin. |
| 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." | 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. | There was no independent confirmation, and the Taliban denied their local leader had been killed. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| An Afghan MP, Dr Fatima Aziz, told the BBC she fled the city with her children, coming under fire from the Taliban as she escaped. | An Afghan MP, Dr Fatima Aziz, told the BBC she fled the city with her children, coming under fire from the Taliban as she escaped. |
| "I'm very worried for my people," she said. | "I'm very worried for my people," she said. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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: |