Afghan Taliban seize much of northern city center in major attack

Taliban fighters battled their way into the center of Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan on Monday and were within blocks of the governor's compound, in one of the most serious security breaches in 14 years of war, witnesses and officials said.

The assault was the second time this year that the hardline Islamist movement has besieged Kunduz city, defended by Afghan forces battling largely without NATO's support after it withdrew most of its troops last year.

The insurgents launched a three-sided surprise offensive at around dawn, and by mid-afternoon they had hoisted their white flag over Kunduz's main square, about 200 meters from the governor's compound, according to a Reuters witness.

The witness also said battles were raging in two districts close to the governor's compound.

Abdullah Danishy, deputy governor of Kunduz, confirmed the insurgents were closing in.

"There is fierce fighting ongoing at Spin Ghar park, which is some half a kilometer (550 yards) away from the governor’s compound," Danishy told Reuters by telephone.

However, he insisted the provincial center would not fall.

"We have reinforcements coming from other areas and will beat back the Taliban."

The Kunduz assault marks a troubling development in the insurgency, although Afghan forces have managed to drive the Taliban back from most of the territory they have gained this year during an escalation in violence.

"It is certainly the first major breach of a provincial capital since 2001," said Graeme Smith, senior analyst for International Crisis Group.

"They are choking the Afghan forces from all sides. It looks pretty grim."

He said Afghan reinforcements could still take back the areas of downtown Kunduz now in Taliban hands, but the insurgents may be tough to dislodge.

"Once they get inside an urban area, your air assets and artillery become much less useful," Smith said.

The Taliban were ousted in 2001 after a U.S.-led campaign, and have been fighting to reimpose their rule in sporadic clashes ever since. They have stepped up their campaign this year as NATO forces drew down to just a few thousand troops.

One Reuters witness saw buildings on fire in the south of the city, and saw Taliban fighters entering a 200-bed government-run hospital.

Dozens of panicked residents fled to the city's main airport but were turned away by security forces.

Afghan military helicopters were firing rockets at militants in three areas on the city's outskirts, a police spokesman said. Artillery and gunfire could be heard in the city center from just after daybreak.

"Right now heavy fighting is ongoing in Khanabad, Chardara and at Imam Saheb, the main entrances to the city," Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, a spokesman for Kunduz police, said. "We have enough forces and will drive them out soon."

He added that 20 Taliban fighters had been killed and three Afghan police wounded in the clashes.

Special forces from the Afghan police and army were on their way from neighboring Balkh province to help defend Kunduz, a Balkh police commander said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid urged Kunduz residents to stay inside.

"The mujahideen are trying to avoid any harm to Kunduz residents," he said on his official Twitter account, referring to Taliban fighters.

A hospital official confirmed the Taliban had entered the hospital briefly, apparently looking for wounded government fighters.

"They just visited our rooms. They didn't harm anybody and didn't damage anything. They left soon after," said the official, who declined to be identified.

The once-quiet north of Afghanistan has seen escalating violence in recent years. Kunduz city was the center of fierce fighting in April as the Taliban sought to gain territory after the end of NATO's combat mission at the end of 2014.

A scaled-down NATO presence now mostly trains and advises Afghan forces, although US drones still target militant leaders and a US counter-terrorist force also operates in the country.