Taliban Claim Seizure of Govt. Buildings, Hospital in Provincial Capital Kunduz

Local Editor

The Taliban reported taking several key buildings in a siege of the provincial capital Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan after launching a major offensive operation on Monday, Reuters said.

The extremist militants had captured a 200-bed hospital and several government buildings, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a post on Twitter. Earlier, Afghan police said the Taliban attacked Kunduz from three directions.

A police official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity confirmed that Taliban militants had entered the government-run hospital, but said it was unclear whether they were still there. An eyewitness said he saw buildings on fire in the south of the city.

A hospital official said Taliban insurgents were apparently looking for wounded government fighters.
"They just visited our rooms. They didn't harm anybody and didn't damage anything. They left soon after," said the official, who declined to be identified as he feared retribution.

Another eyewitness told the agency that the Taliban had managed to hoist their flag over Kunduz's main square.

The Taliban advised Kunduz residents to stay indoors during the hostilities, saying its militants would do their best not to harm civilians.

Nevertheless, the Pajhwok news agency said at least four residents of the city were killed during the siege and 47 others were injured. Government forces reported four fatalities on their side and said at least 20 Taliban insurgents were killed.

Some unconfirmed reports in the Afghan media said the UN ordered evacuation of its employees in Kunduz over the attack and so did several other international organizations.

Afghan police and army used helicopters to fire rockets at the advancing Taliban forces. Artillery and gunfire could be heard in the city center after dawn.

"Right now heavy fighting is ongoing in Khanabad, Chardara and at Imam Saheb, the main entrances to the city," Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, a spokesman for Kunduz police, said. "We have enough forces and will drive them out soon."

Kunduz was at the center of fierce fighting between the Taliban and Afghan government forces in April. Taking over the city would be a major victory for the militants, who are seeking to capitalize on the withdrawal of most foreign troops, who handed over most security functions to national forces.

Earlier, Afghan troops drove off the Taliban from most of the ground they took over during the warm weather fighting season.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team