Afghan gov't recaptures Kunduz city, Taliban fighting back

KABUL, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces, after three days of Taliban presence in Kunduz city, launched counter- offensive late Wednesday night and recaptured the city early Thursday, officials said.

"The operations for recapturing Kunduz city backed by U.S. military aircrafts begun at 11:00 p.m. local time Wednesday and recaptured the city at 05:00 a.m. local time Thursday," Kunduz police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told Xinhua.

Taliban militants on Monday captured Kunduz city, capital of the northern Kunduz province.

According to Hussaini, scores of Taliban militants have been killed, dozens injured and several others captured during the operation.

Meanwhile, Taliban militants in an online statement on Thursday confirmed launching counter-offensive by government forces in Kunduz city but insisting have begun fighting back the government forces.

Taliban in the statement confirmed that Afghan forces backed by U.S. military entered Kunduz city early Thursday morning and Taliban fighters made tactical retreat from the city.

According to the Taliban statement, the militants have hit back the advancing government forces and Kunduz city is still in the control of Taliban fighters.

Taliban outfit has also claimed that the armed insurgents expanded its grip in the area and captured Khawja Ghar district in the neighboring Takhar province Thursday morning, a claim spurned by officials as baseless.

Meantime, Afghan deputy chief of army staff, General Murad Ali Murad who is leading the cleanup operations in Kunduz in talks with local media asserted that hundreds of Taliban insurgents have been killed during the cleanup operations in Kunduz city.

He also added that the operation backed by the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission would last until complete elimination of Taliban militants in Kunduz city and adjoining districts.

Government forces, according to a senior police officer, Amanullah Ibrahimi have wiped out Taliban militants from the Imam Sahib district of Kunduz province on Thursday and ensured law and order there. Enditem