Roundup: Taliban overrun parts of Afghan northern Kunduz city, gov't dispatches reinforcement

Taliban militants after launching massive offensive and fierce fighting have captured major parts of the northern Kunduz provincial capital, the Kunduz city, 250 km north of Kabul on Monday, police confirmed.

Police spokesman in the province, Sayed Sarwar Hussaini in talks with Xinhua confirmed that the Taliban militants entered the city after suffering huge casualties.

"At least 20 dead bodies of Taliban have left behind on the ground and scores of others injured," He also added that, but didn't comment on the possible casualties of security forces and civilians.

Hussaini also confirmed that the Taliban militants have besieged provincial police department and are fighting to capture it.

Meantime, Najib Danesh the deputy to spokesman of the Interior Ministry in talks with local media confirmed Taliban presence in parts of Kunduz city and said that reinforcement have been sent to repulse Taliban militants from the city.

"Reinforcement has been sent and counter-operations to expel militants and ensure law and order in Kunduz city would soon begin, " Danesh told reporters.

However, locals said that the Taliban have captured Kunduz prison and set free hundreds of detainees.

Meanwhile, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in contact with media claimed capturing Kunduz city and said "cleanup operation" has been continuing in Kunduz city.

Taliban militants, according to Mujahid, began attacking Kunduz city at 03:00 a.m. local time and entered the city at noontime.

The fall of parts of the strategically important Kunduz city which borders Tajikistan has prompted Afghan Wolesi Jirga or Lower House of parliament to question government ability and its honesty in war against Taliban outfit.

"Governor of Kunduz province is siding with the Taliban militants," chairman Lower House, Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi said in the session of the house Monday afternoon.

A lawmaker from Kunduz province, Fatima Azizi, has also accused the central government of negligence and said, "Taliban have captured major parts of Kunduz city, people are fleeing the war but the government has yet to take any step to control the situation."

She also added that provincial governor and intelligence of Kunduz province are out of the province at this critical stage.

Meantime, an armed Taliban fighter wandering on Kunduz street in talks with locals said that his aim of capturing Kunduz is to build Medressah (religious school) and impose Sharia or Islamic law there. Endi