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Taliban Gain Momentum in Afghanistan’s North as Fight for Kunduz Continues Taliban Gain Momentum in Afghanistan’s North as Fight for Kunduz Continues
(35 minutes later)
KABUL, Afghanistan — As the Taliban and government forces fought on for control of the northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Friday, offensives by the insurgents in several nearby provinces gained momentum.KABUL, Afghanistan — As the Taliban and government forces fought on for control of the northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Friday, offensives by the insurgents in several nearby provinces gained momentum.
But by late morning, American military officials said enemy fire probably had nothing to do with the crash of a United States Air Force transport plane shortly after midnight in eastern Afghanistan that killed 14 people.
The Taliban’s latest push on Friday occurred in the remote and mountainous region of Badakhshan, east of Kunduz. On Thursday night, the Taliban captured the district center, and on Friday morning, they were said to be driving in captured Humvees and Ford Ranger trucks toward Baharak, a crucial town just over 25 miles from the capital of Badakhshan, Faizabad.The Taliban’s latest push on Friday occurred in the remote and mountainous region of Badakhshan, east of Kunduz. On Thursday night, the Taliban captured the district center, and on Friday morning, they were said to be driving in captured Humvees and Ford Ranger trucks toward Baharak, a crucial town just over 25 miles from the capital of Badakhshan, Faizabad.
In two other northern provinces, Takhar and Baghlan, the insurgents have also made substantial gains in recent days. That raises questions about whether the Afghan security forces, already struggling to respond to the Taliban’s capture of Kunduz at the beginning of the week, would be able to contain emboldened insurgent forces across Afghanistan’s northeast.In two other northern provinces, Takhar and Baghlan, the insurgents have also made substantial gains in recent days. That raises questions about whether the Afghan security forces, already struggling to respond to the Taliban’s capture of Kunduz at the beginning of the week, would be able to contain emboldened insurgent forces across Afghanistan’s northeast.
As recently as last week, the Taliban and the Afghan security forces appeared to be locked in a stalemate of sorts, at the conclusion of a bloody fighting season that had led to a heavy death toll for Afghan soldiers and police officers.As recently as last week, the Taliban and the Afghan security forces appeared to be locked in a stalemate of sorts, at the conclusion of a bloody fighting season that had led to a heavy death toll for Afghan soldiers and police officers.
But the Taliban broke the stalemate early Monday, when hundreds of their fighters marched into Kunduz, a city of 300,000 people not far from the border with Tajikistan. Most of the city’s defenders quickly retreated or disappeared in a defeat that the Afghan government has since struggled to explain.But the Taliban broke the stalemate early Monday, when hundreds of their fighters marched into Kunduz, a city of 300,000 people not far from the border with Tajikistan. Most of the city’s defenders quickly retreated or disappeared in a defeat that the Afghan government has since struggled to explain.
The extent of Taliban gains across the country’s north became even more apparent in the succeeding days as government reinforcements bound for Kunduz struggled to break through Taliban ambushes along key roads, sapping the Afghan military’s ability to mount a large-scale counterattack.The extent of Taliban gains across the country’s north became even more apparent in the succeeding days as government reinforcements bound for Kunduz struggled to break through Taliban ambushes along key roads, sapping the Afghan military’s ability to mount a large-scale counterattack.
By Wednesday night, Afghan security forces had fought their way into Kunduz, but by Friday they had regained control over little of the city. The fighting intensified on Thursday afternoon, with reports of mortar shells and machine-gun fire piercing homes.By Wednesday night, Afghan security forces had fought their way into Kunduz, but by Friday they had regained control over little of the city. The fighting intensified on Thursday afternoon, with reports of mortar shells and machine-gun fire piercing homes.
The nonprofit organization Doctors Without Borders, which runs the main trauma hospital in the city, had treated 345 people, including 59 children, since Monday morning, according to figures provided by the organization at midday Friday.The nonprofit organization Doctors Without Borders, which runs the main trauma hospital in the city, had treated 345 people, including 59 children, since Monday morning, according to figures provided by the organization at midday Friday.
The number of dead remained unknown. Residents had reported seeing bodies lying in the streets. At the Doctors Without Borders hospital, at least 37 people had died of their wounds by the time they were brought there.The number of dead remained unknown. Residents had reported seeing bodies lying in the streets. At the Doctors Without Borders hospital, at least 37 people had died of their wounds by the time they were brought there.
The hospital was running short of supplies, including blood, because the road to Kunduz from Kabul had been blocked by insurgents in at least two points. Trucks carrying medical supplies left Kabul on Tuesday, but by Friday they still had not been able to reach Kunduz.The hospital was running short of supplies, including blood, because the road to Kunduz from Kabul had been blocked by insurgents in at least two points. Trucks carrying medical supplies left Kabul on Tuesday, but by Friday they still had not been able to reach Kunduz.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said that emergency medical supplies were ready to be flown in from Kabul as soon as security at the Kunduz airport improved.The International Committee of the Red Cross said that emergency medical supplies were ready to be flown in from Kabul as soon as security at the Kunduz airport improved.
The airport, about five miles south of the city, has stayed in government hands and has been the staging ground for Afghan military forces fighting to retake the city. By Friday morning, the Afghan police special forces, backed by Western military advisers, were skirmishing with Taliban forces at the edge of the city, residents said.The airport, about five miles south of the city, has stayed in government hands and has been the staging ground for Afghan military forces fighting to retake the city. By Friday morning, the Afghan police special forces, backed by Western military advisers, were skirmishing with Taliban forces at the edge of the city, residents said.
American involvement in the fight for Kunduz appears to have been relatively limited. Since Tuesday, there have been eight American airstrikes in the area, a military spokesman said. Some of those were to defend the airport, which was in danger of being overrun on Tuesday night. Another destroyed a tank that the Taliban had captured. The two most recent airstrikes occurred Thursday afternoon on the outskirts of Kunduz.American involvement in the fight for Kunduz appears to have been relatively limited. Since Tuesday, there have been eight American airstrikes in the area, a military spokesman said. Some of those were to defend the airport, which was in danger of being overrun on Tuesday night. Another destroyed a tank that the Taliban had captured. The two most recent airstrikes occurred Thursday afternoon on the outskirts of Kunduz.
American Special Forces on the ground were also involved in a firefight in the city on Thursday, according to a statement provided by the military.American Special Forces on the ground were also involved in a firefight in the city on Thursday, according to a statement provided by the military.
In eastern Afghanistan, shortly after midnight on Friday morning, an Air Force C-130J transport plane crashed. The dead included six crew members, who were American armed forces personnel; five civilian contractors working for the American-led military mission in Afghanistan; and three Afghans who were on the ground.In eastern Afghanistan, shortly after midnight on Friday morning, an Air Force C-130J transport plane crashed. The dead included six crew members, who were American armed forces personnel; five civilian contractors working for the American-led military mission in Afghanistan; and three Afghans who were on the ground.
“With high confidence, it does not appear at this time that enemy fire was involved in the aircraft crash,” said Major Tony M. Wickman, an Air Force spokesman in Afghanistan. The cause of the accident was under investigation.“With high confidence, it does not appear at this time that enemy fire was involved in the aircraft crash,” said Major Tony M. Wickman, an Air Force spokesman in Afghanistan. The cause of the accident was under investigation.
The crash occurred as the four-propeller transport aircraft, assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, was taking off from the American base in Jalalabad.The crash occurred as the four-propeller transport aircraft, assigned to the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, was taking off from the American base in Jalalabad.