Taliban insurgents said they have captured parts of the northern Afghanistan city of Kunduz after staging a predawn coordinated attack from several directions. 

Local media reported the militants have captured the provincial legislature building, a 200-bed hospital and other key buildings. 

Afghan officials said intense fighting is raging in in Kunduz, but would not confirm Taliban claims of seizing control of key installations. 

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqi told VOA that national security forces have killed up to 25 insurgents, claiming there are no casualties among Afghan forces.

‘Clearing operation’ underway

“Insurgents and terrorists attacked the city from three to four sides. We have sent reinforcements and a clearing operation is underway in the area,” Sediqi said.

However, media outlets are reporting dozens of local police have been killed or wounded.

In eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, authorities said hundreds of Islamic State militants staged a coordinated predawn attack against key security outposts in Nangarhar province. Afghan forces have forced the extremists to retreat.

Officials said it was the first major attack by Islamic State militants against Afghan forces, coming after months of reports that the extremist group is becoming more and more powerful in Afghanistan.

Reports said 85 militants and three Afghan policemen were killed.

Achin district governor Haji Ghalib Mujahid told VOA in Islamabad that most of the heavily armed militants were Pakistani nationals.

Suicide bomber

Also Sunday, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a volleyball game in Paktika province, killing at least nine people and wounding about 50. No one has claimed responsibility.

Increased activity by the Islamic State group, especially in Nangarhar province where it has been fighting with the Taliban, has put more pressure on Afghan security forces to control the extremists.

There are worries in Afghanistan that a leadership dispute among the Taliban could lead to more defections to the Islamic State group, strengthening its ranks in Afghanistan.

The United States said it is concerned about Islamic State efforts to try to establish a stronghold in Afghanistan.

“It is unpredictable as yet how it might evolve. It is something that we are taking seriously,” a senior State Department official said last week.
…