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You are here: Home / Archives for Afghanistan

Afghanistan beat Scotland by 14 runs in World T20

March 9, 2016 by Nasheman

afghanistan-cricket

Nagpur: Afghanistan defeated Scotland by 14 runs in the second match of the opening day of the World T20 against Scotland at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here on Tuesday.

Chasing a considerable target of 171 runs, Scotland only managed 156/5.

Scotland started strongly posting an 84-run first wicket stand between George Munsey (41) and Kyle Coetzer (40). But both the openers departed in the space of three balls that scuttled their ambitions.

Middle order batsman Matt Machan (36) tried to keep Scotland in the hunt but without any support from the other end, his effort went in vain.

Rashid Khan (2/28) was Afghanistan’s best bowler.

Earlier, a fine half century from Mohammad Shahzad (61) guided Afghanistan to a competitive 170/5.

Shahzad gave his side a perfect start after they won the toss, smashing five fours and three sixes in an entertaining innings in their Group B match. He finished with 61 from 39 balls, a crucial contribution in setting Scotland and imposing target of 171.

Captain Asghar Stanikzai offered good support with 55 not out from 50 balls. But he was contained in the late overs by some tight bowling from Alasdair Evans (1-24).

Brief scores: Afghanistan 170/5 (Mohammad Shahzad 61), Scotland 156/5 (George Munsey 41)

(Agencies)

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Afghanistan, Cricket, Scotland

Modi inaugurates new parliament building in Afghanistan

December 25, 2015 by Nasheman

modi

Kabul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi todayinaugurated the Parliament building which has been constructed by India at a cost of USD 90 million here.

 

The new parliament building in Afghanistan will stand as a symbol of ties between India and Afghanistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the inauguration ceremony.

“It will stand as an enduring symbol of the ties of emotions and values, of affection and aspirations that bind us in a special relationship,” the prime minister said.

“The great Afghan people waged an epic struggle of courage and resolve to shape their future with vote and debate and not gun and violence.”

Modi said he stands on behalf of “1.25 billion friends in India in admiration for your achievements and in gratitude for your friendship.”

He said the day was special as it was former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birthday, adding he was “deeply touched” that a block in the new building was named ‘Atal block’.

Earlier, Khaama press reported that Ghani and Modi toured the parliament building, including the main session hall in the presence of guests, including member of the Afghan parliament.

PM has arrived on a visit during which he is expected to hold talks with Afghan leadership, including President Ashraf Ghani.

Modi who flew in the wee hours from Moscow, where he had annual summit talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, was received by Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar and deputy Foreign minister Hekmat Karzai.

“From Russia to Afghanistan. A pre-dawn arrival in Kabul begins a day of engagements with another dost,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

On his arrival Modi said, “delighted to be in Kabul among friends. Will meet Ashraf Ghani, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai”.

Modi will be holding talks with Afghan leaders on key bilateral issues, including security co-operation and discuss the ways to help war-torn country where India has committed over two billion assistance.

The Prime Minister will also be inaugurating the Parliament building and expected to address the Afghan lawmakers.

The Parliament building project, which was initially conceived at a cost of USD 45 million, was started by India in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to help rebuild Afghanistan.

Significantly, prior to the Prime Minister’s visit, India has delivered three Mi 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan, in what is seen as a shift in its strategy towards the strife-torn country.

Defence sources said that three such choppers have already been delivered to the Afghan government, which will boost its capability against Taliban terrorists.

The Parliament building project, which was initially conceived at a cost of USD 45 million, was started by India in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to help rebuild Afghanistan.

Situated between historic landmarks King’s Palace “Darulaman” and the Queen’s Palace – the building has elements of Mughal and modern architecture and has Asia’s largest dome as its key feature.

The building will house the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House) with a seating capacity of 294, a 190-seat Meshrano Jirga (Upper House), besides other facilities like conference hall and press room.

Meanwhile, Mi 25 choppers were taken to Afghanistan in a C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, sources said.

While Afghanistan has repeatedly sought India’s support in beefing up its military’s fighting capability in terms of machinery, India had shied away till now.

The development came after the recent visit of Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar to New Delhi.

Afghanistan has till now been dependent on the US air support in its operations against the Taliban.

However, with the American forces pulling out that country to a large extent, the Afghan forces will be using the Mi 25 now.

(Agencies)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Afghanistan, Narendra Modi

Afghan and Taliban forces trade blows in Sangin battle

December 25, 2015 by Nasheman

At least 20 civilians killed in past 24 hours, officials say, as Afghan special forces re-take police headquarters.

The fight for control of Sangin has raged for days, with both sides claiming to have the upper hand [File: Watan Yar/EPA]

The fight for control of Sangin has raged for days, with both sides claiming to have the upper hand [File: Watan Yar/EPA]

by Al Jazeera

Afghan special forces troops are locked in an intense battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan’s strategic Sangin district, after re-taking some government buildings from the armed group, officials said.

At least 20 civilians have been killed during the past 24 hours of fighting, local council officials told Al Jazeera on Friday morning.

The fight for control of the town in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province has raged for days, with both sides claiming to have the upper hand.

The most recent battle on Friday morning was taking place around the town’s central bazaar, said Al Jazeera’s Qais Azimy, reporting from the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.

“The government [fighters] have been able to get control of the police headquarters and the district chief’s office,” he said.

Our correspondent said that about 100 Afghan special forces soldiers are believed to have dropped into the Sangin some time on Thursday and that they were now waiting for reinforcements and supplies to be trucked in.

“They are desperately looking to open the road between Lashkar Gah and Sangin so they can supply the soldiers there,” he said.

“But they are facing difficulties on the 70km stretch of road. There are a lot of improvised explosive devices and mines that have been placed by the Taliban, which makes it hard to travel. And they are facing ambushes as well.”

He added that several hundred civilian families are believed to still be in Sangin, mainly those who could not afford to leave.

While not confirming that they had lost control of the police headquarters, a Taliban spokesman told Al Jazeera acknowledged that the special forces troops had won some ground in Sangin.

Afghan forces in Sangin have been supported by US aircraft, which carried out two attacks in the district on Wednesday, and British forces, which have been deployed to Helmand.

The UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday that British troops had been deployed to the province to support local forces after the Afghan defence minister called for a desperate international support and air cover.

This month marks a year since the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan transitioned into an Afghan-led operation, with allied nations assisting in training local forces.

In a separate development, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani are holding talks in Kabul on Friday.

Modi is expected to hand over four attack helicopters to Afghanistan during his one-day visit.

Filed Under: Muslim World Tagged With: Afghanistan, Taliban

Kabul: Modi meets Ghani to discuss security, bilateral cooperation

December 25, 2015 by Nasheman

modi-ghani

Kabul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to discuss a wide range of issues, including security and bilateral cooperation.

Modi met Ghani soon after his arrival here from Moscow in the wee hours. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome after which Ghani warmly received him at presidential palace.

“A meeting between friends…President @ashrafghani warmly welcomes PM @narendramodi as they begin their meeting,” Prime Minister’s office tweeted.

“The embrace of a friend, the strength of a true partner. Prez @ashrafghani welcomes PM @narendramodi in Kabul,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.

On his arrival here, Modi was received by Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar and deputy Foreign minister Hekmat Karzai.

“From Russia to Afghanistan. A pre-dawn arrival in Kabul begins a day of engagements with another dost,” Swarup tweeted.

Modi will also be holding talks with other Afghan leaders, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai.

His talks with Afghan leaders will be focused on key bilateral issues including security co-operation and the ways to help the war-torn country where India has committed over USD two billion assistance.

He will also inaugurate the Parliament building which has been constructed by India at a cost of USD 90 million. He is expected to address the Afghan lawmakers.

The Parliament building project, which was initially conceived at a cost of USD 45 million, was started by India in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to help rebuild Afghanistan.

Significantly, prior to the Prime Minister’s visit, India has delivered three Mi 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan, in what is seen as a shift in its strategy towards the strife-torn country.

Defence sources said that three such choppers have already been delivered to the Afghan government, which will boost its capability against Taliban terrorists.

(PTI)

Filed Under: India Tagged With: Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, Narendra Modi

US launches air strikes in embattled Afghan district

December 24, 2015 by Nasheman

The Taliban has taken control of most of the strategic district of Sangin where heavy fighting continues.

Afghan commanders have appealed for NATO close air support to bombard Taliban positions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan [Abdul Khalik/AP Photo]

Afghan commanders have appealed for NATO close air support to bombard Taliban positions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan [Abdul Khalik/AP Photo]

by Al Jazeera

US aircraft carried out two attacks in Sangin, the district in southern Afghanistan overrun by Taliban fighters this week, officials said as the battle for the strategic province of Helmand continued.

“US forces conducted two strikes in Sangin on December 23 against threats to the force,” a spokesman for the military coalition said.

Earlier on Thursday, Afghanistan’s government sent reinforcements to help besieged forces as Taliban claim to have taken control of almost all of Sangin district.

The Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said on Wednesday that their fighters had seized the entire district including police and military installations and their flags had been raised.

However, Helmand’s deputy governor, Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, denied the claim.

“We are still fighting to push back the Taliban. Parts of Sangin are under the Taliban control but not the police and military installations,” he told Al Jazeera.

“The military planes have dropped food and supplies to the Afghan forces on ground.”

The UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday that British troops had been deployed to the province to support local forces after the Afghan Defence Minister called for a desperate international support and air cover.

“As part of the UK’s ongoing contribution to NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, a small number of UK personnel have been deployed to Camp Shorabak in Helmand Province in an advisory role,” a spokesman said.

“In total the UK has around 450 troops in Afghanistan mentoring and supporting the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces and the Afghan Security Ministries.”

Sangin has seen more than 100 British troops losing their lives during the decade long combat mission in Afghanistan.

The Taliban statement regarding the British troops deployment said that before entering Afghanistan “they should have studied the history of their ancestors and should have learned a lesson from the repeated defeat”.

“For that reason they would have not come with the intend to invade our country,” the statement said.

“They were defeated even after the presence of thousands of troops and the same will happen with these few hundred troops, this means nothing else but a shameful humiliation for them.

“They have made no accomplishment even after fighting for the past 14 years. We are still strong.”

David Sedney, a foreign policy analyst at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C, told Al Jazeera that the Afghan army is showing its weakness.

“The Taliban have made big advances in Helmand province in summer and into the winter and the offensive is increasing,” he said.

“They [Taliban] put a lot of fighters a lot of weapons in Helmand province that is right in the border with Pakistan and most of the fighters and weapons come across the border, there is nothing that stops them.

“The Afghan National Army core that was charged with the defending Helmand was the newest one and when the United States and NATO pulled back, they decided not the leave any serious advisors with them, just a few special forces troops, so you have force that is poorly equipped and is really struggling to survive.”

No end to violence 

The northern city of Kunduz briefly fell to the Taliban in late September – the biggest victory for the group in 14 years of war.

Earlier this week, a suicide bomber attacked a joint Afghan-NATO convoy near Bagram airbase near Kabul, killing six foreign soldiers and wounding three others. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

“Recently, the Taliban has shown an extraordinary capability to launch major attacks on government forces. They have proven capable of using both guerrilla fighters and engaging in conventional warfare,” Hashmatullah Moslih, Al Jazeera’s political analyst said.

“At the same time, the government soldiers are static – sitting in their outposts defensively, effectively handing the initiative to the Taliban.”

This month marks a year since the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan transitioned into an Afghan-led operation, with allied nations assisting in training local forces.

US President Barack Obama announced in October that thousands of US troops would remain in Afghanistan past 2016, keeping the current force of 9,800 troops, amid a surge in Taliban attacks.

Filed Under: Muslim World Tagged With: Afghanistan, Helmand

Earthquake recorded in northwest Pakistan near Afghan border

November 23, 2015 by Nasheman

earthquake-afghanistan

by Digby Lidstone, Reuters

Chitral: An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 was recorded on Sunday in northwest Pakistan, according to the United States Geological Survey.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the quake, which struck 83 km (50 miles) north-northwest of the city of Chitral, in a sparsely populated area close to the border with Afghanistan.

Filed Under: Muslim World Tagged With: Afghanistan, Earthquake, Pakistan

Former drone pilots to Obama: Civilian killings driving ‘terrorism, instability’

November 19, 2015 by Nasheman

Air Force whistleblowers say US drone program “is one of the most devastating driving forces for terrorism and destabilization around the world.”

Graffiti denouncing strikes by US drones in Yemen. (Photo: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

Graffiti denouncing strikes by US drones in Yemen. (Photo: Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

by Lauren McCauley, Common Dreams

Four former U.S. Air Force drone operators issued a public letter on Wednesday warning that the United States’ ongoing targeted killing program “is one of the most devastating driving forces for terrorism and destabilization around the world.”

The letter (pdf), addressed to U.S. President Barack Obama, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, and CIA Chief John Brennan accuses the administration of fueling “tragedies such as the attacks in Paris” while “lying publicly about the effectiveness of the drone program.”

“We came to the realization that the innocent civilians we were killing only fueled the feelings of hatred that ignited terrorism and groups like ISIS,” the whistleblowers wrote, “while also serving as a fundamental recruitment tool similar to Guantanamo Bay.”

According to Guardian reporters Ed Pilkington and Ewan MacAskill, who broke the story, the servicemen have “more than 20 years of experience between them operating military drones.” In the letter, the men say they all “succumbed to PTSD” and were subsequently “cut loose by the same government we gave so much to—sent out in the world without adequate medical care, reliable public health services, or necessary benefits.”

Facing possible persecution for speaking out, the men are being represented by attorney Jesselyn Radack, director of national security and human rights at the nonprofit ExposeFacts. Radack says this letter marks the “first time we’ve had so many people speaking out together about the drone program.”

The full text of the letter is below:

Dear President Obama, Secretary Carter and Director Brennan: 

We are former Air Force service members. We joined the Air Force to protect American lives  and to protect our Constitution. We came to the realization that the innocent civilians we were killing  only fueled the feelings of hatred that ignited terrorism and groups like ISIS, while also serving as a  fundamental recruitment tool similar to Guantanamo Bay. This administration and its predecessors  have built a drone program that is one of the most devastating driving forces for terrorism and  destabilization around the world. 

When the guilt of our roles in facilitating this systematic loss of innocent life became too much, all of us succumbed to PTSD. We were cut loose by the same government we gave so much to ­­ sent  out in the world without adequate medical care, reliable public health services, or necessary benefits.  Some of us are now homeless. Others of us barely make it. 

We witnessed gross waste, mismanagement, abuses of power, and our country’s leaders lying  publicly about the effectiveness of the drone program. We cannot sit silently by and witness tragedies  like the attacks in Paris, knowing the devastating effects the drone program has overseas and at home.  Such silence would violate the very oaths we took to support and defend the Constitution. 

We request that you consider our perspective, though perhaps that request is in vain given the  unprecedented prosecution of truth­tellers who came before us like Chelsea Manning, Julian Assange,  and Edward Snowden. For the sake of this country, we hope it is otherwise.

Sincerely,

Brandon Bryant

Staff Sergeant

MQ­1B Predator Sensor Operator

SERE Instructor Trainee

USAF Joint Special Operations Command

3rd Special Operations Squadron

Disabled Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran

Founder of Project RED HAND

Cian Westmoreland

Senior Airman

RF Transmissions Systems

USAF CENTCOM

73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron

Disabled Afghanistan Veteran

Project RED HAND’s Sustainable Technology Director

Stephen Lewis

Senior Airman

MQ­1B Predator Sensor Operator

USAF Joint Special Operations Command

3rd Special Operations Squadron

Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran

Michael Haas

Senior Airman

MQ­1B Predator Sensor Operator Instructor

USAF Air Combat Command

15th Reconnaissance Squadron

Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran

Filed Under: Muslim World Tagged With: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Drones, Iraq, John Brennan, Syria

Afghans protest decapitations of ethnic Hazara by ISIL

November 11, 2015 by Nasheman

Thousands demonstrate for security after seven people beheaded – including women and children – allegedly by ISIL.

The seven Hazara victims included three women and two children [Reuters]

The seven Hazara victims included three women and two children [Reuters]

by Shereena Qazi

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Afghanistan’s capital on Wednesday with coffins carrying the bodies of seven ethnic Hazara demanding justice after their beheadings.

The protests included women and men from Afghanistan’s different ethnic groups – Pashtun, Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazara – as they marched on the Presidential Palace to urge the government to take action against rising violence against Afghan civilians.

According to Afghan officials, the Hazara hostages were captured by ISIL fighters more than a month ago and held in Arghandab district of Zabul province.

Three women, two children, and two men had been beheaded with razor wire, officials said. Their bodies were discovered by the Taliban who handed them over to tribal elders on Saturday in Ghazni province, from where they were abducted.

“We will continue to fight for the safety of our family,” civil rights activist Shahzaman Hashemi told Al Jazeera. “This is our right to feel safe. Whatever happened to those women and children can happen to us as well.”

The Afghan government announced a national day of mourning on Wednesday over the killings.

‘Had enough’

Maryam Jamal, who also took part in the march, said it was important to pressure the government to halt the escalating violence in the country. “They’ve now started killing women and children,” she said.

“It can be me tomorrow, can be my children. This protest is historic and we are adamant to not back off until something is done about this. We’ve had enough.”

Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi told Al Jazeera security officers had taken control of the protest area and were making sure no one gets hurt during the demonstrations.

“There are thousands of people here and the number is expected to increase. People from far off places have come to Kabul to take part in the protest today,” Rahimi said. “We are making sure the protest doesn’t get violent. So far people are protesting peacefully.”

Demonstrators chanted “death to Islamic State” on Tuesday in Ghazni province as a van carried the coffins covered by Afghan flags. Ghazni police blamed the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Afghanistan for the grisly killings.

“We want justice not just for them but for the thousands of other innocent people who are brutally killed this way, almost every day,” protester Ismail Khanjar told Al Jazeera.

“We don’t care if they were Shia Muslims or not. For us they are human and they were killed in the most brutal way. What was their fault?”

The bodies were then transported from Ghazni city to Kabul, 130km away, for Wednesday’s demonstration.

 

The Hazara have long suffered oppression and persecution in Afghanistan. During the 1990s, thousands were killed by al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

Sayed Zafar Hashemi, deputy spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani, told Al Jazeera security threats affect the entire nation, and not just specific communities.

“We are doing everything we can to help protect our people,” he said.

Afghanistan has several ethnic groups including Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks and Turkmen – mainly in the north and west – as well as Pashtun, located primarily in the south and east.

ISIL emerged in Afghanistan last year.

A Taliban splinter group calling itself the High Council of Afghanistan Islamic Emirate announced last week it had elected its own leader, defying new Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.

Insecurity continues to grip Afghanistan after the withdrawal of international forces in recent years. Violent clashes between two armed groups in southern Afghanistan erupted on Sunday, resulting in the death of at least 50 fighters from both sides.

Filed Under: Muslim World Tagged With: Afghanistan, Hazara, IS, ISIL, ISIS, Islamic State, Shia

Thirty Shia Muslims kidnapped in Afghanistan

November 11, 2015 by Nasheman

Men from minority Hazara group were travelling by bus through central Afghanistan when masked gunmen took them away.

Afghanistan Hazara

by Al Jazeera

Masked gunmen have abducted 30 Shia Muslim men who were travelling by bus through central Afghanistan, according to local authorities.

The men, members of the minority Hazara ethnic group, were taken on Monday evening in Zabul province, on the road between the western city of Herat and Kabul.

Hazara Shia Muslims are often the target of sectarian violence at the hands of Sunni Muslim groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Our driver saw a group of masked men in Afghan army uniform signalling him and he thought they were soldiers so he stopped,” said Nasir Ahmad, an official with the Ghazni Paima bus company, told AFP news agency.

“The gunmen took 30 Hazaras away with them.”

Ahmad said the kidnappers took only the men on the two buses and released the women and children travelling with them.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the abductions, but kidnappings for ransom by bandits, local militias and the Taliban are common in Afghanistan.

Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said the police were “doing everything to ensure their safe release”.

Filed Under: Muslim World Tagged With: Afghanistan, Hazara, Shia

Air strike kills MSF medical staff in Afghanistan

October 3, 2015 by Nasheman

Three Doctors Without Borders staff killed in bombing of hospital in Kunduz, as NATO admits it may have been involved.

Surviving MSF staff were in shock after the clinic in Kunduz sustained heavy damage in the bombardment [MSF/Al Jazeera]

Surviving MSF staff were in shock after the clinic in Kunduz sustained heavy damage in the bombardment [MSF/Al Jazeera]

by Al Jazeera

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) says three of its staff have been killed in an overnight bombing of a hospital in the embattled Afghan city of Kunduz.

NATO said on Friday that a US air strike “may have” hit the hospital, which is run by the medical charity, adding that the attack may have resulted in collateral damage.

The MSF hospital is seen as a key medical lifeline in the region, which has been running “beyond capacity” in recent days of fighting which saw the Taliban seize control of the provincial capital for several days.

“At 2:10 am (20:40 GMT) local time … the MSF trauma centre in Kunduz was hit several times during sustained bombing and was very badly damaged,” MSF said in a statement on Friday.

Deeply shocked at bombing of MSF hospital in #Kunduz. Staff and patients killed. MSF urges fighting parties to respect health facilities

— MSF International (@MSF) October 3, 2015

At the time of the bombing, 105 patients and their caretakers and more than 80 MSF international and national staff were present in the hospital, the charity said.

NATO investigation

NATO said in a statement that US forces conducted an air strike in Kunduz at 2:15am local time “against individuals threatening the force”.

“The strike may have resulted in collateral damage to a nearby medical facility. This incident is under investigation,” the statement said.

In a statement, the Taliban accused “barbaric American forces” of deliberately carrying out Saturday’s strike, which “killed and wounded tens of doctors, nurses and patients”.

The MSF trauma centre in Kunduz is the only medical facility in the region that can deal with major injuries.

Al Jazeera’s Qais Azimy, reporting from Puli Khumri, about 130km from Kunduz, said the bombing injured at least 50 people.

Following the attack, the medical charity urged all parties involved in the violence to respect the safety of health facilities, patients and staff.

Battle for Kunduz

The development came a day after the Afghan government claimed it had successfully retaken parts of Kunduz from Taliban fighters who had controlled the strategic city since Monday.

The Taliban, however, claimed it remained in control of most of Kunduz, our correspondent said.

Kunduz is facing a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire between government forces and Taliban fighters.

Precise losses in the fighting were not known, but health authorities said on Friday that at least 60 people have been killed and 400 wounded.

As fighting spreads in neighbouring Badakhshan, Takhar and Baghlan provinces, concerns are mounting that the seizure of Kunduz was merely the opening gambit in a new, bolder Taliban strategy to tighten the grip across northern Afghanistan.

Afghan forces, backed by NATO special forces and US air strikes, have been going from house to house in Kunduz in a bid to flush Taliban fighters out of the city.

The Taliban’s offensive in Kunduz, their biggest tactical success since 2001, marks a major blow for Afghanistan’s Western-trained forces, who have largely been fighting on their own since last December.

Civilian and military casualties caused by NATO forces have been one of the most contentious issues in the 14-year campaign against the Taliban, provoking harsh public and government criticism.

US-led NATO forces ended their combat mission in Afghanistan last December, though a 13,000-strong residual force remains for training and counterterrorism operations.

But there has been an escalation in air strikes by NATO forces in recent months despite the drawdown.

MSF’s hospital is the only facility of its kind in the whole north-eastern region of Afghanistan [MSF]

The medical charity urges all parties to the violence to respect the safety of health facilities, patients and staff [MSF]

Filed Under: Muslim World Tagged With: Afghanistan, Doctors Without Borders, Kunduz, NATO

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