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Roundup: Clash for control of Afghan Kunduz city enters second day, gov't forces push back Taliban

Xinhua, October 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

Fierce fighting for the control of Kunduz city the capital of the northern Kunduz province has entered second day on Tuesday as the government forces have pushed back militants from several areas, officials said Tuesday.

"More than 40 Taliban rebels have been killed since early this morning when the government forces launched counter-offensive and forced militants to retreat from several areas in Kunduz city," a senior security official Mahfoozullah Akbari told Xinhua.

According to the official, dozens of Taliban fighters have also been injured and the militants have retreated from their positions captured on Monday.

Assadullah Omarkhil, Governor of Kunduz province, has also reported Taliban defeat in parts of the city and in talks with media asserted that the firefight has been reduced and normalcy has returned to many parts of Kunduz city today.

Taliban militants in a surprise move entered the northern Kunduz city the capital of the strategically important Kunduz province along the border with Tajikistan on Monday.

Kunduz police chief Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh have also reported the defeat of Taliban militants and said that the security forces would soon liberate all parts of Kunduz from the armed insurgents.

Residents of the embattled Kunduz city have also confirmed security officials' claim on government forces advance in retaking areas from Taliban militants in and around Kunduz city.

"If we compare Tuesday's situation with that on Monday we can say that the Taliban militants have lost 80 percent of areas controlled on Monday and just sporadic fighting continues in isolated areas," a Kunduz dweller Rahmatullah Khan told Xinhua.

However, he added that there is no water and power in many parts of Kunduz city and many families have left for safer places.

Government forces backed by aircraft including helicopter gunships have been pushing in Taliban held areas to kill or capture militants, locals and officials said.

Taliban militants who claimed their rule over Kunduz city on Monday, have yet to make comment on the latest development and situation about Kunduz city on Tuesday. Enditem