Afghan forces fight to retake city from Taliban

Afghan forces have been battling Taliban fighters to retake the city of Kunduz, a day after it fell to the insurgents in their biggest victory since their removal from power in 2001. Heavy fighting has been reported, and President Ashraf Ghani said his forces had regained some government buildings. Police said more than 80 militants […]

Afghan forces have been battling Taliban fighters to retake the city of Kunduz, a day after it fell to the insurgents in their biggest victory since their removal from power in 2001.
Heavy fighting has been reported, and President Ashraf Ghani said his forces had regained some government buildings.
Police said more than 80 militants had been killed, although there is no independent confirmation of this.
The Taliban overran Kunduz on Monday, forcing government troops to retreat.
The surprise attack on the key northern city came as President Ashraf Ghani completed his first year in office.
In a televised address on Tuesday, he said “progress” was being made recapturing Kunduz, but security forces had been hampered by the Taliban using civilians as human shields.
“The government of Afghanistan is a responsible government and it cannot bomb its people and compatriots inside the city and will not do so,” he said.
US military planes had supported the operation, striking Taliban positions on the outskirts of the city, a NATO spokesman said.
The Afghan health ministry said Kunduz hospitals had received 16 bodies, with almost 200 people injured.