Taliban Claims Flag Raised Over Kunduz as Officials Reportedly Flee City
Islamists are boasting that they have entered the central district of the key Afghan city of Kunduz. Local news media report that government and police forces are still resisting the massive Taliban assault as civilians flee the city.
#BREAKING: #Kunduz city’s main circle and many parts of city over run by Taliban, sources confirm #Afghanistan
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) October 3, 2016
Local sources confirmed me that #Taliban entered the city including the main square of #Kunduz.
— Tajuden Soroush | تاجالدین سروش (@TajudenSoroush) October 3, 2016
“Kunduz main intersection has just been overrun by Mujahideen, attacks underway on governor compound and police HQ,” said a tweet from Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid.
https://twitter.com/Omid_Jafari/status/782935216163880960
Mujahid later posted a short video showing armed men in shawls praying and freely walking around what appeared to be a built-up part of Kunduz, a city of more than 250,000 people and a strategically important transport waypoint in the north of the country.
https://twitter.com/Zabihulla13/status/782921077869649920
Retreating Afghan troops in #Kunduz city left almost all equipment/weapons for Taliban. Another video from the city: pic.twitter.com/nF0e8iRC05
— Ahmad Yar (@Ahmdyarr) October 3, 2016
Late on Monday, a Taliban source told journalist Wassim Nasr that only the airport remained under firm government control. Other eyewitnesses claimed that military equipment was being withdrawn or left to the attackers as officials and troops fled the city.
#Afghanistan selon source #Taliban : "toute la ville de #Kunduz est sous contrôle, à l'exception de l'aéroport tjrs sous contrôle gouv."
— Wassim Nasr (@SimNasr) October 3, 2016
#Kunduz: Taliban raised their flag in the center of the city. situation is quite intense. people left their homes and fled toward airport.
— Qiam Noori (@QiamNoori) October 3, 2016
Taliban forces launched a surprise assault on the city from four directions at dawn on Monday, and by afternoon of the same day, officials said that “most” of Kunduz had been captured. Kabul announced that it was sending reinforcements, and Resolute Support, the NATO mission in the country said that “US enablers, including air power, are in position and prepared to assist in Kunduz as needed.”
(Update) U.S. enablers, including air power, are in position and prepared to assist in Kunduz as needed
— Resolute Support (@ResoluteSupport) October 3, 2016
#kunduz: Taliban in the center of the city . pic.twitter.com/B7x2iaqqVM
— Qiam Noori (@QiamNoori) October 3, 2016
Slogans of "Allahu Akbar" echoed in #Kunduz city as district center falls to Taliban. pic.twitter.com/ER5u7I4B1a
— Ahmad Yar (@Ahmdyarr) October 3, 2016
#Kunduz: Newly released footage by Taliban. city is empty and quite with residents frightened and fleeing. https://t.co/MjezYlefn9
— Qiam Noori (@QiamNoori) October 3, 2016
According to Pentagon estimates, around 10 percent of Afghanistan’s 30 million people are living under Taliban control, and a further 20 percent in its conflict zones. If captured, Kunduz would be the biggest urban center under Taliban command.
The Taliban captured Kunduz almost exactly a year ago, but pulled out a fortnight later after coming from an intense counter-offensive from government forces.
The latest attack comes just as the fragile unity government of President Ashraf Ghani marks two years in power. It was put in place following Washington-mediated talks that followed a contested election in 2014, in which both Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah claimed victory.
Source: rt.com