KABUL – Taliban fighters Monday morning gained control of key locations in Afghanistan’s Nawa district of southern Helmand province as Afghan government forces failed to repel the attack.
Meanwhile, Afghan forces are struggling hard to resist the coordinated attack of Taliban insurgents launched from four directions in the city of Kunduz.
According to media reports, Nawa district’s Police Chief was also killed in the fight against Taliban militants. Sounds of gunfire were still coming from some parts of the district.
Officials confirmed that Taliban have secured control of all of the significant areas of Nawa district, which was taken over by Afghan forces as a result of a major assault earlier last year.
Intense fight in Kunduz
The commander of the 808 Tandar police zone in Kunduz, Sheer Ali Kamal,said the Taliban attacked the city from four sides at around midnight on Sunday. “We are putting all our efforts together to push them back,” he said, while talking to the Reuters news agency.
Military helicopters and units of Afghan special forces have also reached the city to intensify the push against Taliban attackers.
“A massive operation started on Kunduz capital from four directions early this morning,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said using his Twitter account on Monday morning.
Taliban fighters are mounting their efforts to gain control of Lashkar Gah city of Helmand province. There are reports of high-degree assaults in Uruzgan as well.
The Taliban assaults came at a time when Afghanistan’s international allies are set to begin a two-day conference in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday. Kabul is expecting a formal approval of billions of dollars in aid for Afghanistan during the summit.
Early morning blast kills one in Kabul
At least one person was killed while two others were left wounded when a heavy explosion stormed Afghan capital Kabul on Monday morning.
Afghan Ministry of Interior said the blast an an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted in a bicycle parked in Charqala area of the city. The explosion took place at 6:30am (local time).
No militant group including Taliban militants immediately claimed responsibility for the incident.
