The Afghan government on Tuesday said that the Afghan National Security and Defense Forces (ANDSF) recaptured three strategic districts from the Taliban: Balkh district in Balkh, Dushi district in Baghlan and Ali Abad district in Kunduz.
However, local sources said that over the past 24 hours the Taliban has captured several districts from the ANDSF in the country.
The districts which fell to the Taliban are Gul Tapa, Ali Abad and Chahardara districts in Kunduz, Baghlan-e-Markazi and Nahrain districts in Baghlan, Khamab and Qarqin districts in Jawzjan, Jaghato in Maidan Wardak, Lajmangal and Ahmadkhel in Paktia, Shajoy in Zabul, Maiwand in Kandahar and Choora in Uruzgan.
In the northern part of the country, fighting continues in these provincial capitals: Kunduz city in Kunduz, Maimana in Faryab, Taluqan in Takhar, Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan and Sar-e-Pul city in Sar-e-Pul.
Local sources said that the war has now reached the outskirts of Kunduz city. They said that the security forces have also withdrawn from the Sher Khan Bandar port area, which borders Tajikistan.
“Currently the war is raging in Sher Khan Bandar, we do have sufficient weaponry in Kunduz,” said Baseera Rasouli, an MP from Kunduz.
“Kunduz is under attack from three or four directions, the situation is distressing, the shops are locked,” said Imamuddin, a resident in Kunduz.
The fighting in Kunduz is displacing people.
“We have been destroyed, there is no way to go to Kabul or other areas,” said Ainuddin, a resident of Kunduz city.
“Special operation units have changed and are in control of the situation, we are now at the frontline,” said Mohammad Ali Yazadani, the commander of Special Operation Corps.
According to reports, fighting is also underway between the ANDSF and the Taliban in suburbs of Pul-e-Khumri city.
“Pul-e-Khumri city will not fall, at any cost. The people should carry on their business and duties with a peaceful mind,” said Safiullah Mazlom, the head of the Baghlan security department.
Fighting was also reported in the city of Maimana in Faryab and Taluqan in Takhar.
“If the central government does not concentrate, we will witness a human tragedy and human catastrophe,” said Lotfullah, a resident in Takhar province.
“Faryab is on the verge of collapse, the people of Faryab are very concerned,” said Darwish, a resident in Faryab.
“If the central government does not take action, we will lose Samkanai, Janikhel and all of Paktia,” said Taj Mohammad Mangal, a member of Paktia's provincial council.
“All problems will be resolved very soon,” said Ajmal Omar Shinwari, a spokesman for the ANDSF.
With the fall of 13 district centers in the past 24 hours, the total number of centers taken by the Taliban in the past two months is 70.
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