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| Taliban says it has raised flag over Kunduz as citizens flee city | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Islamists are boasting that they have entered the central district of the key Afghan city of Kunduz. Local news media report that government and police forces are still resisting the massive Taliban assault as civilians flee the city. | Islamists are boasting that they have entered the central district of the key Afghan city of Kunduz. Local news media report that government and police forces are still resisting the massive Taliban assault as civilians flee the city. |
| “Kunduz main intersection has just been overrun by Mujahideen, attacks underway on governor compound and police HQ,” said a tweet from Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. | “Kunduz main intersection has just been overrun by Mujahideen, attacks underway on governor compound and police HQ,” said a tweet from Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. |
| Mujahid later posted a short video showing armed men in shawls praying and freely walking around what appeared to be a built-up part of Kunduz, a city of more than 250,000 people and a strategically important transport waypoint in the north of the country. | Mujahid later posted a short video showing armed men in shawls praying and freely walking around what appeared to be a built-up part of Kunduz, a city of more than 250,000 people and a strategically important transport waypoint in the north of the country. |
| The Afghan Ministry of Defense later questioned the veracity of the claims and images. | |
| Late on Monday, a Taliban source told journalist Wassim Nasr that only the airport remained under firm government control. Other eyewitnesses claimed that military equipment was being withdrawn or left to the attackers as officials and troops fled the city. | |
| Taliban forces launched a surprise assault on the city from four directions at dawn on Monday, and by afternoon of the same day, officials said that “most” of Kunduz had been captured. Kabul announced that it was sending reinforcements, and Resolute Support, the NATO mission in the country said that “US enablers, including air power, are in position and prepared to assist in Kunduz as needed.” | Taliban forces launched a surprise assault on the city from four directions at dawn on Monday, and by afternoon of the same day, officials said that “most” of Kunduz had been captured. Kabul announced that it was sending reinforcements, and Resolute Support, the NATO mission in the country said that “US enablers, including air power, are in position and prepared to assist in Kunduz as needed.” |
| According to Pentagon estimates, around 10 percent of Afghanistan’s 30 million people are living under Taliban control, and a further 20 percent in its conflict zones. If captured, Kunduz would be the biggest urban center under Taliban command. | According to Pentagon estimates, around 10 percent of Afghanistan’s 30 million people are living under Taliban control, and a further 20 percent in its conflict zones. If captured, Kunduz would be the biggest urban center under Taliban command. |
| The Taliban captured Kunduz almost exactly a year ago, but pulled out a fortnight later after coming from an intense counter-offensive from government forces. | |
| The latest attack comes just as the fragile unity government of President Ashraf Ghani marks two years in power. It was put in place following Washington-mediated talks that followed a contested election in 2014, in which both Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah claimed victory. |