Afghanistan Times
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By Mansoor Faizy-KABUL: The Afghan security forces recaptured the control of a strategic Khanabad district from Taliban in northern Kunduz province, provincial official said on Sunday.
“To retake the district which was fallen to the Taliban on Saturday, a joint operation on that day (Saturday) carried by Afghan National Army and Afghan Special Police Force including security forces from Takhar province, in which the district had retaken from the Taliban,” provincial police spokesman Hejratullah Akbari told Afghanistan Times.
He added that it was late Saturday evening that we retake the district. “38 Taliban insurgents were killed and more than 20 others received injuries during attack.” However, he said that two soldiers were also killed during operation.
“Takhar security forces on Saturday conducted an operation to retake Khanabad district of Kunduz province because it (the district) has border with two districts of Takhar province—Ishkamish and Bangi, where the fall of the district was a great threat for these two provinces as well, Takhar governor spokesman, Sanaullah Timory told Afghanistan Times.
“We carried operation against Taliban insurgents from Taluqan district where Takhar governor Mohammad Yasin Zia was leading the fight against them (Taliban), he said.
He added that security guards of the governor including provincial security forces were took part the operation. “We entered to Khanabad district around 07:00 PM Saturday, where the governor raised the Afghan flag over the Khanabad square.”
After the collapse of the district, the Afghan National Army Deputy Chief of Staff Gen. Murad Ali Murad also arrived in Kunduz province. “My visit is to suppress the militants in this province,” he said.
He said that eliminating insurgent group in the province is his top priority, adding, “Unfortunately, the center of Qala-e-Zal district fell to the militant on Saturday night, but will retake the district soon.”
“Taliban will be eliminated. Only dead and weakened Taliban will have a place in Kunduz.”
At the same day (Saturday) Taliban insurgents attacked Ali Abad another district of Kunduz province, but the Afghan security forces repelled their (Taliban) attack.
Provincial officials said that Taliban launched a complex attack on the district, but they (Taliban) were retaliated by Afghan security forces.
It is worth mentioning that Khanabad district is very important from strategic point of view because it connects Kunduz with Takhar. The Taliban insurgents have accelerated attacks in northern and southern provinces in a bid to capture strategic districts.
Moreover, a large number of people in Kunduz province were displaced as a result fierce fighting. The residents forced to leave their house and properties in order to safe their skin.
An official in the provincial Internal Displaced People (IDP) office Abdul Saboor told Afghanistan Times that several people were displaced from Khanabad district, but he did not provide exact details.
Hundreds of families in Kunduz province, especially from Khanabad district fled to safer areas.
They escaped to the neighboring Takhar province after Taliban insurgents captured the district.
A displace resident said when Taliban took control of the district, the militants turned their houses into stronghold and start firing toward security forces from there.
After the Taliban captured the district, we had to escape and reach to the secure place, se we came to Takhar province, a displaced resident Aminuallah said.
We are in dire condition, because we escape the district with two piece of cloths, the displace family said, asking the government and Afghan people to help them.
