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| Afghan forces claim recapture of Kunduz from Taliban | Afghan forces claim recapture of Kunduz from Taliban |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Afghan government says it has recaptured most parts of Kunduz, the northern city seized by the Taliban earlier this week, forcing the insurgents to retreat in heavy street fighting that was still underway on Thursday. | |
| Afghan special forces launched an operation around 9 pm on Wednesday, alongside regular soldiers and police. They were backed by coalition airstrikes and international troops, thought to be acting in an advisory role. | Afghan special forces launched an operation around 9 pm on Wednesday, alongside regular soldiers and police. They were backed by coalition airstrikes and international troops, thought to be acting in an advisory role. |
| Photos on social media showed soldiers removing a Taliban flag from the city’s central square. A Taliban spokesman said its fighters were still resisting government forces in the centre and controlled most of the rest of Kunduz. | |
| The claim and counter-claim follow three days of heavy fighting after the Taliban seized the city on Monday, in a stunning surprise assault. It was the first time since 2001 that the insurgents have been able to breach a large city. | |
| According to a security official close to the Afghan government, the US military carried out at least two airstrikes. | |
| Related: The Guardian view on the fall of Kunduz: the high price of international neglect | Editorial | Related: The Guardian view on the fall of Kunduz: the high price of international neglect | Editorial |
| “By 3.30 am, our special forces were able to retake the city and clear the city from terrorists,” said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry. | “By 3.30 am, our special forces were able to retake the city and clear the city from terrorists,” said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior ministry. |
| “There are lots of dead bodies of Taliban in the city right now. Hundreds of them,” he said, estimating that at least 200 militants had been killed in the operation. | “There are lots of dead bodies of Taliban in the city right now. Hundreds of them,” he said, estimating that at least 200 militants had been killed in the operation. |
| Zabihullah, a Kunduz resident living close to the main city square, who like many Afghans prefers to use one name, said that “intense fighting is continuing on the streets of city.” | |
| “The situation is really critical and getting worse, and I’ve just heard a huge explosion from a bomb near my house,” he said, speaking to the AP over the telephone from his home. | |
| The militants also captured several districts surrounding Kunduz, which are still largely under their control, according to the government security source. It was part of a broader offensive in the north of the country and officials expect the Taliban to keep attacking military checkpoints and other facilities in the neighbouring provinces of Baghlan and Takhar. | The militants also captured several districts surrounding Kunduz, which are still largely under their control, according to the government security source. It was part of a broader offensive in the north of the country and officials expect the Taliban to keep attacking military checkpoints and other facilities in the neighbouring provinces of Baghlan and Takhar. |