Afghan Forces Uproot Terrorists in Kunduz After Humanitarian Disaster Hits Province

Afghan security forces have wiped out militants from Kunduz province, but its inhabitants faced a humanitarian disaster after days of fighting between the government and Taliban.

The Army Chief of staff, Murad Ali Murad has declared that efforts are made to not allow the armed opposition group to enter the city.

Taliban militants, who mounted coordinated attacks on Afghanistan’s Kunduz province, have reportedly been defeated, and the fighting between the Islamists and government forces has stopped, Gen. Murad Ali Murad said.

After four hours of operations by security forces, the key areas of the province; Khakani and Zakhail village have been cleared.

Afghan civilians increasingly abandoned the Kunduz province to escape fighting between government forces and the Taliban.

Terrified inhabitants facing a growing humanitarian disaster have been fleeing explosions and gunfights to neighboring provinces of Balkh, Takhar, Baghlan and the capital Kabul.

Since yesterday, about 50,000 people have left the city for neighboring Takhar province, said the provincial representative. “Most of them are staying in school buildings or with other families, but some are living out in the open.”

President Ghani has also announced of humanitarian aids to the displaced people of Kunduz.

“I have ordered a 70 million Afghanis immediate assistance to the people two days ago and this process will be continued,” said President Ashraf Ghani.

The United Nations also voiced concern about the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation for civilians still trapped in the conflict-hit northern Afghan city of Kunduz, while thousands of others have fled their homes with few possessions.

On last Monday, Taliban insurgents launched an offensive and captured various areas in Kunduz. Local media reported that the insurgents took control over the National Security Directorate (NDS) building and were heading towards the governor’s administration office.

One day after, it was reported that the center of Kunduz had been freed from Taliban. Over two dozens of militants were killed in clashes between Taliban and Afghan security forces.

The fall of the provincial capital, even temporarily, highlights the stubborn insurgency’s potential to expand beyond its rural strongholds in the south of the country.

The latest attack came just over a year after the militants briefly seized Kunduz city in what was dubbed as one of their biggest successes for Taliban, and the worst setback for the Afghan government in the last 15 years of war in Afghanistan. Afghan Taliban forces were ousted in 2001 when the US invaded the country.

Kunduz is the most important administrative, military and strategic center in northern Afghanistan. In 2015, the city was seized by Taliban militants but soon was liberated by the Afghan military.