Afghan forces engage Taliban in heavy fighting in three northern provinces

Afghan government forces and the Taliban are engaged in fierce fighting in three northern provinces as the militants ramp up their offensives to seize further territory in the conflict-ridden country.

Afghanistan’s TOLO news agency said on Sunday that heavy clashes were underway between Afghan security forces and the Taliban in the central parts of three northern Provinces of Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Jawzjan, with reports of civilian casualties.

The Taliban said in a statement that they had “captured the capital city of Kunduz,” a claim not confirmed by local media sources.

An AFP reporter in the area said “Kunduz has fallen … the Taliban have taken all the key installations in the city.”

A resident said the city was enveloped in “total chaos.”

Local officials in Kunduz said the militants have reached the main square of the provincial capital and some Afghan troops have retreated towards the city’s airport.

“Fierce street-to-street fighting is ongoing in different parts of the city. Some security forces have retreated towards the airport,” Amruddin Wali, a member of the Kunduz Provincial Council, told AFP.

Citing unnamed sources, TOLO news said “some key government buildings have fallen to the Taliban” as clashes intensified near the police headquarters and the main roundabout in the center of Kunduz city.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense said government forces were fighting to retake key installations in Kunduz.

“The commando forces have launched a clearing operation. Some areas, including the national radio and TV buildings, have been cleared of the Taliban,” the ministry said in a statement.

The provincial public health directorate said at least 11 people have been killed and 39 more wounded in Kunduz clashes that started on Friday evening.