Afghan forces prepare for counter-attack on Taliban-seized Kunduz

PanARMENIAN.Net - Afghan forces have arrived at Kunduz airport in preparation for a counter-attack on the embattled city, which was seized by the Taliban on Monday, September 28, according to BBC News.

An operation would be launched in the coming hours, a spokesman for the Kunduz provincial police told the BBC.

Troops and officials retreated to the airport after militants overran the northern city capturing buildings and freeing hundreds from jail. The attack comes as President Ashraf Ghani completes one year in office.

It is one of the most significant militant assaults in years and will pile pressure on Ghani's unity government - Kunduz would be the first provincial capital taken by the Taliban since they lost power in the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.

Although the attack is one of the most serious security breaches since the start of the Taliban insurgency 14 years ago, their main challenge will now be to hold the city, according to BBC.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that fighters would make an advance on the airport too, but witnesses told BBC Afghan there was no sign of any such movement yet. There were few signs of fighting overnight and the city remained without power, BBC Afghan learned.

Medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres‎ says it is treating more than 100 people wounded in heavy fighting and its facility in the city is now full.

Kunduz is strategically and symbolically important as it is both a transport hub for the north of the country and the Taliban's former northern stronghold, before their government was overthrown.

The attack began at dawn on Monday as fighters fell upon the city from different directions. They captured key buildings and images posted on social media purported to show fighters hoisting Taliban flags across the city.