Afghan Government Forces Fail to Wrestle Kunduz Province From Taliban

Afghanistan's government forces failed to maintain control over most of the northern Kunduz province amid growing Taliban presence in the area, a Kunduz provincial council member said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The Kunduz province has been a hotbed of Taliban activity in Afghanistan. In September 2015, the Taliban seized the 300,000-large provincial capital city of Kunduz after months of fighting between the militants and government forces.

"I mentioned this in the past that 70 percent of Kunduz is under the control of militants, but now the percentage has increased after another district fallen to insurgents – including most parts of Dasth-e-Archi district. We are concerned about the situation and so are the residents," council deputy head Zargul Alemi said, as quoted by the TOLOnews channel on Friday.

The regional capital was wrestled back from the Taliban in October, but the militants continued making advances elsewere in 2016, capturing the Qala-e-Zal district in July as well as gaining control over most of the Archi district and making advances in the Imam Sahib district.

Taliban fighters have overran up to 90 percent of the Archi district, Alemi said, adding that the government only controls four roads in the entire province.

Afghanistan is experiencing significant political, social and security-related instability, as radical extremist organizations, including the Taliban, continue to stage attacks against civilian and state targets. The Taliban now controls more territory than at any time since 2001, according to the United Nations.