KABUL (Online) – Afghan government forces have recaptured a key district of the northern province of Kunduz from the Taliban, the provincial governor Asadullah Omarkhel’s announcement came hours after Khanabad district was occupied by Taliban fighters.
Afghanistan’s independent Tolo TV news channel also reported that government troops had recaptured Khanabad, which is about 30km (19 miles) east of Kunduz.
Earlier on Saturday, the Taliban attacked from several directions, forcing government troops to retreat to Kunduz city, which briefly fell to the Taliban last year.
The Taliban have made gains since international troops officially ended their active fighting role in 2014.Afghan security forces are currently battling the insurgents in nearly half of the country’s 34 provinces.
Earlier this week, the Taliban captured a district in neighbouring Baghlan province and there has also been fighting in Helmand in the south and in eastern Nangarhar province.
