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Afghanistan dispatches reinforcements to counter Taliban in Kunduz

Iran Press TV

Tue Apr 28, 2015 12:20PM

Afghan officials have sent reinforcements to the northern province of Kunduz, where Taliban is apparently gaining an upper hand, intensifying fears that the region may slip into the hands of the militants.

A spokesman for Afghanistan's Interior Ministry announced Tuesday that a major operation is underway to push the Taliban elements out of areas near the provincial capital city of Kunduz.

Sediq Sediqqi said Afghan forces have already killed 27 Taliban members along with a major commander of the militant group in ongoing battles around the Imam Sahib district.

The fighting erupted on April 24, after Taliban launched what it calls its annual spring offensive. The battle, however, seems to be serious this time with reports from citizens and government forces confirming that Taliban have surrounded the provincial capital.

Imamuddin Qurais, the governor of Imam Sahib, warned Tuesday that army units in the region were in dire need of support from Kabul, otherwise Taliban could take control of Kunduz.

Other reports say that shops and businesses have been closed across the city while administrative staff have deserted the government buildings, all indicating that a Taliban takeover largely looms in the region.

On Monday, President Ashraf Ghani delayed for several hours his pre-planned trip to India to hold an emergency meeting with the commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan. NATO sources later confirmed the meeting between Ghani and General John Campbell took place in Kabul, but would not elaborate on the details.

Intense fighting was reported Tuesday as Taliban managed to destroy a strategic bridge connecting Imam Sahib to Kunduz. The militants have denied suffering any casualties, saying Taliban is intent on capturing the entire province.

If carried out, it would be the first such takeover for Taliban since it was purged out of major urban areas of Afghanistan after the US-led invasion of the country in 2001.

MS/HSN/SS