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The offensive
around Kunduz began only days after the Islamist group announced
their annual spring offensive, vowing to launch large-scale
attacks using suicide bombers and guerilla fighters to drive the
Western-backed government from power.
Fighting broke out on Thursday in six districts in Kunduz
province, a crucial northern stronghold close to the Tajikistan
border, as well as around the provincial capital, with Afghan
security forces battling militants through the night.
"There is heavy fighting going on but the militants have failed
to capture any areas and we are pushing them back," Kunduz
police chief Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh told Reuters.
Taliban fighters briefly captured Kunduz city last year in a
major blow to President Ashraf Ghani's government. They also
threatened to take Helmand province in the southern heartland of
the insurgency after overrunning several districts.
With those memories still fresh, officials took to the airwaves
to try to head off panic among the public.
"We will assure our people that the situation is under control
and we will never allow the catastrophe that happened last
year," Jangalbagh said.
The insurgency has gained strength since the withdrawal of
international troops from combat at the end of 2014 and the
Taliban are stronger than at any point since they were driven
from power by U.S.-backed forces in 2001.
The sound of gunfire and explosions could be heard as far as 5
km (3 miles) from the eastern outskirts of Kunduz city,
witnesses reported. Fearful residents hid in their homes and
many shops remained closed on Friday.
The highway between Kunduz and neighboring Takhar province was
also blocked, officials said.
Imamuddin Qureshi, chief of Kunduz's Imam Saheb district, said
several security outposts had already fallen to insurgents and
called on the government in Kabul to send reinforcements and air
support immediately.
Outposts were also overrun in other districts and security
forces fled to Kunduz city to regroup, Khanabad district chief
Ayatullah Amiri said.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said fighters had captured
outposts in six districts and that three bomb blasts had killed
seven members of the Afghan security forces just outside Kunduz.
Those claims could not be verified immediately.
The brief capture of Kunduz last September was one of the
biggest territorial gains made by insurgents since they were
ousted from power.
(Writing by Hamid Shalizi; Editing by Paul Tait)
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