Taliban seize major provincial capital, first since 2001
The Taliban has taken a key Afghanistan city, the first provincial capital that the group has seized since losing power in 2001, in a major embarrassment for the government.
Militants stormed the city of Kunduz at dawn, battling to the city centre.
The city is a useful gain for the Taliban, as a hub for transportation in the north of the country. Its loss is a also substantial security breach for the government, the biggest such loss since 2001.
The assault occurred a day before the anniversary of President Ashraf Ghani’s unity government.
Video sent to Channel 4 News shows the group raising the white Taliban banner in the city centre, with the group now battling to take the airport.
The city was a stronghold of the Taliban prior to their overthrow in 2001. Hundreds of prisoners were said to have been freed.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid wrote on Twitter: “With the capturing of the police compound and governor’s office in Kunduz, the whole province fell to our hands and our fighters are now advancing towards the airport.”
Taliban pics sent 2 @Channel4News they say from central #Kunduz; 1st provincial city in Taliban control since 2001 pic.twitter.com/JcX9BmDNjf
— bendepear (@bendepear) September 28, 2015
