The Afghan National Army commandos rescued 10 civilians from a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/taliban-must-agree-to-a-ceasefire-and-join-the-intra-afghan-peace-talks-215289">Taliban prison </a>in an operation conducted late Friday night in the country`s northern province of Kunduz, a military source said on Saturday.

"The raid was launched in Aq Saray village, Chahar Dara district late Friday, and the building used by the Taliban as a detention centre was destroyed by the security forces," Xinhua quoted army spokesperson Ghulam Hazrat Karimi as saying.

Taliban militants guarding the facility fled before the troops arrived. The civilians were shifted to an army camp for the identification process before being provided accommodation. They would be joining their families soon.

Taliban insurgents frequently detain civilians from across villages and highways on charges of spying for the government security forces.&nbsp;

The Afghan National Army commandos rescued 10 civilians from a Taliban prison in an operation conducted late Friday night in the country`s northern province of Kunduz, a military source said on Saturday.

The Afghan National Army commandos rescued 10 civilians from a Taliban prison in an operation conducted late Friday night in the country`s northern province of Kunduz, a military source said on Saturday. "The raid was launched in Aq Saray village, Chahar Dara district late Friday, and the building used by the Taliban as a detention centre was destroyed by the security forces," Xinhua quoted army spokesperson Ghulam Hazrat Karimi as saying. Taliban militants guarding the facility fled before the troops arrived. The civilians were shifted to an army camp for the identification process before being provided accommodation. They would be joining their families soon. Taliban insurgents frequently detain civilians from across villages and highways on charges of spying for the government security forces.

Afghan National Army commandos rescues 10 civilians from Taliban prison

Taliban forces attacked the northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Saturday, a day after the launch of their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-announce-spring-offensive-amid-afghan-peace-push-209755">annual spring offensive</a>, as fighting intensified across the country ahead of the next round of peace talks with US&nbsp;representatives.

Heavy fighting has been going on for weeks but the announcement of the spring offensive while peace talks were due was a blow to any hopes of a quick agreement and was criticised as "reckless" by US&nbsp;special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement the movement was committed to the peace process but accused Afghan and international forces of stepping up their own operations.

"We are committed to the ongoing process of negotiation and peaceful resolution, but we cannot be unmoved in the face of military operations and the terrorist wave of occupiers and mercenaries," Khalilzad said.

However, security officials in Kabul said that apart from the operation in Kunduz, Saturday's attacks in 15 provinces across the country were limited in scope and had largely been contained.

"They engaged Afghan security forces to show their presence with the start of their spring offensive," one senior official said. "But Afghan forces were on high alert across the country and therefore several attacks were pushed back."

Strategic city

In Kunduz, the strategic city which briefly fell to the Taliban in 2015, fighters attacked from several directions in the early hours of the morning, causing heavy casualties, the provincial governor's spokesman Enhamuddin Rahmani said.

A local health official said more than 70 dead and wounded had been brought into the main city hospital.

There were also attacks in the northern provinces of Baghlan, Takhar and Badakhshan, as well as Faryab, Sar-e Pul and Balkh, but there were no reports of significant casualties among security forces.

In southern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-27-afghan-taliban-fighters-killed-in-own-attack-on-govt-building-210061">Afghanistan</a>, Taliban forces launched attacks in the opium-rich province of Helmand, with operations in Nad Ali, Gereshk and Sangin districts, areas that have been fought over for the past 17 years.

Omar Zwak, the provincial governor's spokesman, said the attacks had been repelled at the cost of four soldiers and 15 Taliban. "The fighting will further increase as the weather warms up," he said.

Separately, seven members of the security forces were killed in an ambush in the western province of Ghor, leading to an hours-long firefight, provincial government spokesman Abdul Hai Khatibi said.

While much of the fighting consisted of small-scale engagements, the spread of operations across most parts of the country underlined the struggle facing the Afghan government, still shut out of the peace process by the Taliban's refusal to talk to what they consider a puppet regime.

According to US&nbsp;estimates, government forces control just over half the country, but with many areas out of reach of easy communications, an accurate picture is difficult.

Peace talks are due to resume in Doha next week between US&nbsp;envoy Khalilzad and Taliban officials.

Taliban forces attacked the northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Saturday, a day after the launch of their annual spring offensive, as fighting intensified across the country ahead of the next round of peace talks with US representatives.

Taliban forces attacked the northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Saturday, a day after the launch of their annual spring offensive, as fighting intensified across the country ahead of the next round of peace talks with US representatives. Heavy fighting has been going on for weeks but the announcement of the spring offensive while peace talks were due was a blow to any hopes of a quick agreement and was criticised as "reckless" by US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement the movement was committed to the peace process but accused Afghan and international forces of stepping up their own operations. "We are committed to the ongoing process of negotiation and peaceful resolution, but we cannot be unmoved in the face of military operations and the terrorist wave of occupiers and mercenaries," Khalilzad said. However, security officials in Kabul said that apart from the operation in Kunduz, Saturday's attacks in 15 provinces across the country were limited in scope and had largely been contained. "They engaged Afghan security forces to show their presence with the start of their spring offensive," one senior official said. "But Afghan forces were on high alert across the country and therefore several attacks were pushed back." Strategic city In Kunduz, the strategic city which briefly fell to the Taliban in 2015, fighters attacked from several directions in the early hours of the morning, causing heavy casualties, the provincial governor's spokesman Enhamuddin Rahmani said. A local health official said more than 70 dead and wounded had been brought into the main city hospital. There were also attacks in the northern provinces of Baghlan, Takhar and Badakhshan, as well as Faryab, Sar-e Pul and Balkh, but there were no reports of significant casualties among security forces. In southern Afghanistan, Taliban forces launched attacks in the opium-rich province of Helmand, with operations in Nad Ali, Gereshk and Sangin districts, areas that have been fought over for the past 17 years. Omar Zwak, the provincial governor's spokesman, said the attacks had been repelled at the cost of four soldiers and 15 Taliban. "The fighting will further increase as the weather warms up," he said. Separately, seven members of the security forces were killed in an ambush in the western province of Ghor, leading to an hours-long firefight, provincial government spokesman Abdul Hai Khatibi said. While much of the fighting consisted of small-scale engagements, the spread of operations across most parts of the country underlined the struggle facing the Afghan government, still shut out of the peace process by the Taliban's refusal to talk to what they consider a puppet regime. According to US estimates, government forces control just over half the country, but with many areas out of reach of easy communications, an accurate picture is difficult. Peace talks are due to resume in Doha next week between US envoy Khalilzad and Taliban officials.

Afghanistan: Taliban forces attack northern city of Kunduz, open offensive before peace talks

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani apologised Wednesday to the families of civilians, mainly children, killed when the country's air force sprayed an outdoor religious gathering with rockets and machine gun fire last month.

The April 2 airstrike on a ceremony attended by hundreds of men and boys in Dasht-e-Archi district -- a Taliban stronghold in the northern province of Kunduz -- left at least 36 people dead including 30 &nbspchildren, a United Nations investigation has shown.&nbsp

Seventy-one people were wounded, including 51 children, it said, adding that it had "credible information" the tolls could be even higher.

Originally the government and military had said the Afghan Air Force targeted a Taliban base where senior members of the group were planning attacks.&nbsp

The defence ministry initially denied any civilians had been hurt, then claimed the Taliban had shot them.

On Wednesday Ghani met families as well as local elders and apologised, a statement from the presidential palace said.

"(T)he difference between evildoers and a legitimate government is that a legitimate government apologises for the mistakes made," he said, according to the statement.&nbsp

He also vowed that the government would pay compensation to the families, and build a minaret in memory of the victims as well as a mosque for the region. The statement gave no further details.&nbsp

The UN investigators could not confirm if the casualties were all civilians or whether Taliban leaders had been present at the time of the air strike. They have called for further investigations. &nbsp &nbsp&nbsp

The government has sent two teams to conduct an investigation into the incident but so far neither team has "publicly reported their findings", the UN said.&nbsp

The April 2 airstrike on a ceremony attended by hundreds of men and boys in Dasht-e-Archi district -- a Taliban stronghold in the northern province of Kunduz -- left at least 36 people dead including 30 children

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani apologised Wednesday to the families of civilians, mainly children, killed when the country's air force sprayed an outdoor religious gathering with rockets and machine gun fire last month. The April 2 airstrike on a ceremony attended by hundreds of men and boys in Dasht-e-Archi district -- a Taliban stronghold in the northern province of Kunduz -- left at least 36 people dead including 30 &nbspchildren, a United Nations investigation has shown. Seventy-one people were wounded, including 51 children, it said, adding that it had "credible information" the tolls could be even higher. Originally the government and military had said the Afghan Air Force targeted a Taliban base where senior members of the group were planning attacks. The defence ministry initially denied any civilians had been hurt, then claimed the Taliban had shot them. On Wednesday Ghani met families as well as local elders and apologised, a statement from the presidential palace said. "(T)he difference between evildoers and a legitimate government is that a legitimate government apologises for the mistakes made," he said, according to the statement. He also vowed that the government would pay compensation to the families, and build a minaret in memory of the victims as well as a mosque for the region. The statement gave no further details. The UN investigators could not confirm if the casualties were all civilians or whether Taliban leaders had been present at the time of the air strike. They have called for further investigations. The government has sent two teams to conduct an investigation into the incident but so far neither team has "publicly reported their findings", the UN said.

Ashraf Ghani apologises after Afghan air strike kills 30 children

Two American soldiers were killed and two others wounded on Thursday during operations in Kunduz province, US officials said.

<meta charset="utf-8" />

The victims were on a &quot;train, advise, assist&quot; mission with Afghan forces to &quot;clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group&#39;s operations,&quot; American news network NBC News quoted US military as saying.

The soldiers came under fire as they were assisting Afghan troops to clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group&#39;s operations in Kunduz, US forces said in a brief statement. 
NBC News further reported that the names of the victims were not immediately released because all their families had not been notified.

&quot;On behalf of all of US Forces, Afghanistan, today&#39;s loss is heartbreaking and we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our service members who lost their lives today,&quot; said John Nicholson, commander of NATO&#39;s Resolute Support Mission and US Forces in Afghanistan.

Kunduz province is a Taliban hotbed in northern Afghanistan.&nbsp;

(WION)

US officials said two others were wounded on Thursday during operations in Kunduz province, a Taliban hotbed in northern Afghanistan

Two American soldiers were killed and two others wounded on Thursday during operations in Kunduz province, US officials said. The victims were on a "train, advise, assist" mission with Afghan forces to "clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group's operations," American news network NBC News quoted US military as saying. The soldiers came under fire as they were assisting Afghan troops to clear a Taliban position and disrupt the group's operations in Kunduz, US forces said in a brief statement. NBC News further reported that the names of the victims were not immediately released because all their families had not been notified. "On behalf of all of US Forces, Afghanistan, today's loss is heartbreaking and we offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of our service members who lost their lives today," said John Nicholson, commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission and US Forces in Afghanistan. Kunduz province is a Taliban hotbed in northern Afghanistan. (WION)

Afghanistan: 2 US soldiers killed in anti-Taliban operations in Kunduz

&nbsp;

The Afghan Taliban launched an attack on Afghanistan&#39;s northern Kunduz city on Sunday night.&nbsp;

The commander of the 808 Tandar police zone in Kunduz, Sheer Ali Kamal, said the attack began around midnight (1930 GMT Sunday) and that the fighting was still ongoing, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&quot;We are putting all our efforts together to push them back, &quot; he said.&nbsp;

Reuters added that one of their reporters saw at least five Taliban fighters armed with AK-47 assault rifles, machines guns,&nbsp;and rocket-propelled grenades.&nbsp;

Kunduz fell briefly to the Taliban&nbsp;last year and the city has witnessed spurts of heavy fighting ever since with the insurgents hoping to repeat their succcess.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

 
&nbsp;

The city fell briefly to the insurgents last year and they have been hoping to repeat that success ever since

The Afghan Taliban launched an attack on Afghanistan's northern Kunduz city on Sunday night. The commander of the 808 Tandar police zone in Kunduz, Sheer Ali Kamal, said the attack began around midnight (1930 GMT Sunday) and that the fighting was still ongoing, Reuters reported. "We are putting all our efforts together to push them back, " he said. Reuters added that one of their reporters saw at least five Taliban fighters armed with AK-47 assault rifles, machines guns, and rocket-propelled grenades. Kunduz fell briefly to the Taliban last year and the city has witnessed spurts of heavy fighting ever since with the insurgents hoping to repeat their succcess. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Taliban mounts attack on Afghanistan's Kunduz city

Taliban fighters have made their way into the centre of the Afghan city of Kunduz on Monday, seising the central intersection where their flag was raised a year earlier in what was then the their biggest success of the 15-year conflict, Reuters reported.

Witnesses and police have told Reuters that the insurgents who entered the city in the early hours today were attacking the police headquarters and the governor&#39;s compound, even as some officials were seen fleeing tot the airport.&nbsp;

Unverified footage posted by the Afghan Taliban on social media shows fighters in Kunduz describing how they had captured army strong points and taken prisoners during a day of fighting, Reuters reported.

The fighters are reported to have slipped through a defensive security line that was set up around Kunduz, entering the city from four directions before clashes broke out, witnesses told Reuters.

Police spokesman Mahfozullah Akbari told Reuters that &nbsp;security forces were preparing to drive out the fighters, who had infiltrated the Khak Kani area in the city&#39;s southwest.

&quot;The Taliban are inside some civilian houses and we have to carry out operations very carefully,&quot; he said.

The attack on Kunduz comes in only a day before an international donors&#39;&nbsp;conference in Brussels, where&nbsp;donors are &nbsp;expected to pledge about $3&nbsp;billion a year&nbsp;for Afghanistan through 2020.

Government forces in Afghanistan are reported to have control of&nbsp;no more than two-thirds of the country.

(WION with inputs from Reuters) 
 
&nbsp;

Some officials were reportedly seen fleeing to the airport

Taliban fighters have made their way into the centre of the Afghan city of Kunduz on Monday, seising the central intersection where their flag was raised a year earlier in what was then the their biggest success of the 15-year conflict, Reuters reported. Witnesses and police have told Reuters that the insurgents who entered the city in the early hours today were attacking the police headquarters and the governor's compound, even as some officials were seen fleeing tot the airport. Unverified footage posted by the Afghan Taliban on social media shows fighters in Kunduz describing how they had captured army strong points and taken prisoners during a day of fighting, Reuters reported. The fighters are reported to have slipped through a defensive security line that was set up around Kunduz, entering the city from four directions before clashes broke out, witnesses told Reuters. Police spokesman Mahfozullah Akbari told Reuters that security forces were preparing to drive out the fighters, who had infiltrated the Khak Kani area in the city's southwest. "The Taliban are inside some civilian houses and we have to carry out operations very carefully," he said. The attack on Kunduz comes in only a day before an international donors' conference in Brussels, where donors are expected to pledge about $3 billion a year for Afghanistan through 2020. Government forces in Afghanistan are reported to have control of no more than two-thirds of the country. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Taliban gain foothold in Afghanistan's Kunduz

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