Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Taliban Launches Attack on Kunduz

by VOA News

   Officials in northern Afghanistan say the Taliban has launched a
   coordinated attack on Kunduz and insurgents have entered the city.

   Authorities say the Monday morning attack was launched from several
   directions and security forces are pushing back the insurgents.

   A Taliban spokesman said the militants have captured several
   checkpoints in the city.

   The Taliban offensive on the city comes one day ahead of a major donor
   conference in Brussels where Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will meet
   with world powers in a bid to secure money to rebuild his war-ravaged
   country.

   In September 2015, the Taliban seized Kunduz and held it for several
   days before withdrawing.

   Afghan forces, assisted by the U.S. and advisors from NATO's Resolute
   Support mission, have mostly focused their efforts this year on
   defending urban centers in several northern provinces, including
   Kunduz, as well as Helmand in the south.

   But the Islamist insurgency has recently opened new war fronts in parts
   of eastern, southeastern and central Afghanistan, putting pressure on
   already stretched out Afghan security forces.

   The commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John
   Nicholson, recently revealed that in July alone more than 900 Afghan
   soldiers and policemen were killed while battling the Taliban
   insurgency.

   In the wake of intensified conflict and mounting pressures on Afghan
   refugees in neighboring Pakistan, more than one million people in
   Afghanistan are anticipated to be on the move by the end of this year,
   according to the United Nations. This population will add to an
   estimated 1.2 million people already displaced from their homes.