Taliban seize govt buildings in strategic Kunduz
The Taliban offensive across Afghanistan has now seen the group seize control of several key official buildings in the city of Kunduz, leaving only the city's airport and a military base in control of the government.
That's according to a local politician. This video released by the Taliban is said to show its fighters walking through the police headquarters there.
The politician told Reuters that militants have also taken control of government buildings in another city, the capital of Sar-e Pul province. Similar reports are coming from at least two other cities.
The news comes only a day after the funeral of a senior spokesperson for President Ashraf Ghani's government, who was assassinated by the Taliban.
In recent days the Taliban have taken a third city, Zaranj, the first provincial capital sized by the group in the years. And there are hundreds of people stuck on the border with Pakistan, which was closed after the Taliban took control of a crossing there last month.
Afghan security forces report heavy fighting in Kunduz, a strategic location and home to 270,000 people.
The Taliban's advance has gained momentum as American and allied forces withdraw from the country.
