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Taliban Kunduz attack: Afghan forces regain city say officials Taliban Kunduz attack: Afghan forces 'regain city'
(about 1 hour later)
Afghan officials say they have regained control of key areas of the northern city of Kunduz from the Taliban.Afghan officials say they have regained control of key areas of the northern city of Kunduz from the Taliban.
An operation launched overnight saw forces recapture government landmarks and inflict heavy casualties on the militants, officials said.An operation launched overnight saw forces recapture government landmarks and inflict heavy casualties on the militants, officials said.
There has been no word from the Taliban, but some pictures on social media purport to show government forces around areas of the city. There has been no word from the Taliban, but fighting is reported to be ongoing.
It is the first time militants captured a city since being ousted in 2001. The city's capture was a huge blow to President Ashraf Ghani, coming on the first anniversary of his taking power.
Kunduz police chief spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told BBC Afghan that the military had retaken the governor's office, the police chief's office and the intelligence agency building, adding that "Taliban bodies are lying around". Kunduz police chief spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told BBC Afghan on Thursday that the military had retaken the governor's office, the police chief's office and the intelligence agency building, adding: "Taliban bodies are lying around."
Afghan interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi also tweeted that "AFG (Afghan) Special Security Forces now controls Kunduz City, it is retaken and being cleared ". Pictures on social media purported to show government forces inside the city, which Afghan interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi tweeted was being cleared of insurgents.
However the fate of a strategic Kunduz hill fort captured by the Taliban on Wednesday is unclear and some reports say that the military operation and fighting is still ongoing in some areas. The battle for Kunduz
The Taliban had blockaded the Bala Hisar fortress for two days before nearly 200 Afghan security personnel abandoned the position after running out of food and ammunition, according to security officials. Residents in Kunduz are said to be nervous after a night of bombardment, and after militants set up checkpoints and placed mines on roads to prevent people leaving and troops entering.
Reports also said local boys and men were being forced to fight with the Taliban, who had seized police equipment, ammunition and vehicles and raided banks.
Foreign forces
The US Army confirmed that American and Nato military advisers, including special forces, were in the area, but denied they were fighting on the ground. "But these are dangerous situations and if they need to defend themselves, they will," said a spokesman.
The situation at a strategic Kunduz hill fort captured by the Taliban on Wednesday remains unclear.
Militants had blockaded the Bala Hisar fortress for two days before nearly 200 Afghan security personnel abandoned the position after running out of food and ammunition, according to security officials.
In recent days there have also been reports of fighting in neighbouring Baghlan province, where a former Nato base was said to be under attack.In recent days there have also been reports of fighting in neighbouring Baghlan province, where a former Nato base was said to be under attack.
There were also reports of fighting in several districts in Takhar province, to the east of Kunduz. The Taliban also claimed to have taken a district in western Farah province.There were also reports of fighting in several districts in Takhar province, to the east of Kunduz. The Taliban also claimed to have taken a district in western Farah province.
The BBC's Dawood Azami says the Taliban is 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 is trying to open multiple fronts to divert the attention of the Afghan military from Kunduz and stretch them thin.
Read more on the battle for Kunduz The city's capture has also increased the standing of new Taliban leader, Mullah Mansour, whose succession had been questioned by some in the movement.
Kunduz, with a population of around 300,000, is one of Afghanistan's largest cities, and is strategically important as a transport hub for the north of the country. Surprise attack
It is also a bread-basket for the region and possesses significant mineral resources. Kunduz, with a population of around 300,000, is one of Afghanistan's largest cities, and is strategically important as a transport hub for the north of the country. It is also a bread-basket for the region and possesses significant mineral resources.
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.
The assault on Monday was swift and took Afghan forces by surprise. Nearly 10,000 of those troops are American and the crisis has heightened worries over Washington's plans to pull more of them out. Military leaders are understood to want to keep at least a few thousand in the country after 2016.
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.
The assault on Monday night was swift and took Afghan forces by surprise.
Heavily armed fighters crossed fields to attack the city from multiple directions, helped by infiltrators that had entered the town during the recent Eid festival.
They quickly overwhelmed several of the police checkpoints defending the perimeter of the town before moving into the centre.