Afghanistan

Taliban Fighters Seize Control Of Afghan Provincial Capital Kunduz

Taliban fighters have taken control of much of the key northern Afghan city of Kunduz, the capital of Kunduz Province, a provincial council member confirmed.

Ghulam Rabani said fighting between insurgents and government forces had taken place around the governor's office and police headquarters in Kunduz city, but the Taliban had later taken over the two buildings.

They also have control of Kunduz's main prison building.

Mr Rabani said fighting was continuing at the city's airport and other parts of the city.

Kunduz is a strategic crossroads with good access to much of northern Afghanistan as well as the capital, Kabul, about 200 miles (335km) away.

On Friday, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office urged UK nationals to leave Afghanistan due to the "worsening security situation" and advised against all travel to the country.

An Afghan soldier fights against the Taliban in Kunduz city (Picture: Xinhua/Alamy Stock Photo).

A Taliban surge has intensified as US and Nato troops wrap up their withdrawal from the country.

With Taliban attacks increasing, Afghan security forces and government troops have retaliated with air strikes aided by the United States.

The fighting has raised growing concerns about civilian casualties.

On Saturday, Taliban fighters entered the capital of Jawzjan province after sweeping through nine of 10 districts in the province.

Several other of the country's 34 provincial capitals are threatened as Taliban fighters sweep through large swathes of Afghanistan at a surprising speed.

Meanwhile, air strikes damaged a health clinic and high school in the capital of southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, a provincial council member said on Sunday.

Brigadier Oliver Brown, General Miller and the UK Ambassador at a flag lowering ceremony in Afghanistan 24062021 CREDIT MOD — The British flag is lowered during a ceremony to mark the end of British combat operations in Afghanistan and the drawdown from Camp Bastion in June 2021 (Picture: MOD).

A Defence Ministry statement confirmed that air strikes were carried out in parts of the city of Lashkar Gah.

It said forces targeted Taliban positions, killing 54 fighters and wounding 23 others, but made no mention of a clinic or school being bombed.

Heavy fighting has taken place in and around Lashkar Gah and both US and Afghan government air forces have carried out air strikes in the city. The Taliban control nine of the city's 10 police districts.