Renewed Fighting Reported in Afghanistan’s Kunduz

Fresh fighting broke out Tuesday in Kunduz, Afghanistan, belying days of government claims its forces have evicted and recaptured the beleaguered city from the Taliban.

Local media quoting residents reported clashes between Afghan security forces and Taliban insurgents in the provincial capital’s central square.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the group’s fighters staged an assault on Afghan forces in the early morning and fighting was continuing in several key parts of Kunduz.

Insurgents had briefly overrun the city a week ago in a surprise offensive, but Afghan forces wrested back control in a counteroffensive three days later and have since claimed to have flushed out Taliban militants.

However, hostilities have since continued in parts of Kunduz while Taliban insurgents have also captured several districts in two nearby northern provinces and Afghan forces are battling to regain control of the lost territory.

Commander of the NATO-led military coalition in Afghanistan General John Campbell on Monday acknowledged that Afghan security forces are still fighting to remove the insurgents from Kunduz.

“Unfortunately, the Taliban have decided to remain in the city and fight from within, knowingly putting civilians at significant risk of harm,” the general told reporters in Washington.

He said coalition forces are in the area to provide training, advice and assistance to the Afghan forces.

“While our personnel are not directly engaged in the fighting, they’re providing valuable support to the Afghans,” said Campbelll.

Investigation into airstrike

General Campbell also explained circumstances that led to a U.S. airstrike on a hospital in Kunduz run by the international charity, Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

“We have now learned that on October 3rd, Afghan forces advised that they were taking fire from enemy positions and asked for air support from U.S forces. An airstrike was then called to eliminate the Taliban threat and several casualties were accidently struck,” he said...
 voanews.com
6/10/15
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Related:

• Pentagon says deadly Kunduz air strike requested by Afghans.

• Taliban claims to recapture large parts of Kunduz city (video Al Jazeera)

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