The Taliban attacked Kunduz city from several directions on Monday night and clashed with security forces for several hours, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Tuesday.
“At least 40 Taliban were killed in the clash with security forces and 50 others were wounded,” the MoD said, adding: “The Afghan forces pushed back the Taliban attack.”
“The situation is in the control of the Afghan forces and is back to normal,” the statement said, adding that Afghan forces also pushed back Taliban attacks in Imam Sahib, Chahardara and Khan Abad districts on Monday night, and the “Taliban have suffered heavy casualties in the airstrikes.”
Acting Defense Minister Khalid visited Kunduz and said that eight Afghan forces were killed in the Taliban attack last night and several others were wounded: "The Taliban have suffered heavy casualties and over 50 Taliban were killed in last night's clashes."
“About 1am, the enemies launched attacks on Kunduz city from different directions and fortunately the Taliban suffered heavy casualties and over 40 Taliban were killed and over 60 others were wounded” said Mohammad Ali Yazdani, commander of 217 Pamir corps.
The Taliban said that the Afghan air forces had targeted “a hospital in Chahardara that killed civilians.”
But there have been no reports yet of civilian casualties in the clashes or airstrikes.
In the meantime, a civilian and a policeman were killed and 18 civilians were wounded in a magnetic mine blast in Kunduz city on Tuesday morning, according to local officials.
“Last night there was clashes in Kunduz city and you can see bullet holes in all these areas,” said Abdul Sami, a resident of Kunduz.
A week ago, President Ashraf Ghani, in response to recent attacks in different parts of the country that killed dozens of civilians and security force members, ordered the Afghan forces to switch from “active defensive” mode to “offensive” mode, and to resume attacks on the Taliban.
Also on Monday night, Ghani in a meeting with members of the special forces of the Afghan National Police (ANP) said his administration cannot remain "indifferent" to those killing children.
Ghani was apparently referring to last week’s attack on a maternity hospital in Kabul where gunmen massacred at least 24 people, including women and newborn babies.
No group including the Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.