Afghanistan: Taliban Engaged Governmental Forces in Heavy Fighting in Three Northern Provinces

Afghan government forces and the Taliban are engaged in fierce fighting in three northern provinces as the militants ramp up their offensives to seize further territory in the conflict-ridden country. The Taliban almost completely captured the cities of Sari-Pul and Kunduz in the provinces of the same name in northern Afghanistan. Heavy clashes were underway between Afghan security forces and the Taliban in the central parts of three northern provinces of Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Jawzjan, with reports of civilian casualties. The Taliban said in a statement that they had “captured the capital city of Kunduz.” An AFP reporter in the area…