U.S. airstrikes hit Taliban positions in Kunduz

SHAPIRO: Well, what does this major development – the Taliban takeover of Kunduz – say about the future of Afghanistan and about the future of the USA role there given that America plans to withdraw nearly all of the troops by next year?

“Obviously, this is a setback for the Afghan security forces“, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said Tuesday.

Kunduz province has seen a number of attacks since April, with the Taliban joining forces with other insurgents.

The Taliban, who swarmed into the city of 300,000 on Monday, have solidified their grasp on the provincial capital, and late Tuesday began attacking the airport, about 6.5 miles to the south, where numerous city’s defenders had fled and where a slow trickle of reinforcements had gathered.

Afghan special forces arrive at the airport as they launch a…

The counteroffensive, however, did not appear to be going as well as hoped.

With the capture of Kunduz, the Taliban have achieved a “huge political and propaganda victory”, he said.

Afghan police officers stationed in Kunduz, for example, are thought to have abandoned their posts as the Taliban approached.

The claim was rejected by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who insisted Salaam is still alive.

“Taliban commanders were treated differently than other prisoners in jail”.

Since January IS has been joined by dozens of former Taliban commanders from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Earlier this year, they did it in Helmand Province. “This government should resign…. No one listened”.

However, a district official said the morale of Afghan troops was flagging after several days of continuous fighting. They hid in houses and suddenly burst out early Monday, quickly overwhelming security officials, who struggled to differentiate between militants and residents, Ghani said.

“They are using civilians as shields”.

“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Kunduz following the Taliban’s attack on the city”, Nicholas Haysom, the United Nations’ chief in Afghanistan, said, according to the Guardian. It also comes as reports circulate that the USA – which had committed to ending its engagement in Afghanistan – is reviewing new drawdown options that include keeping thousands of American troops in the country beyond the end of 2016.

Afghan officials claim at least 80 Islamists have been killed in the counter-attack though it is yet to be independently verified. So they have new leadership.

4) The Taliban has no intentions of retaliating against members of the security forces or the government.

The Taleban issued a statement, attempting to reassure residents of Kunduz that they were safe. Again, as you say, it’s on a supply line into Tajikistan, into Northern – outside of Northern Afghanistan. Just as the sudden assault on Kunduz is likely to be connected with his coming to power so is this approach to social media.

A video from the scene shows groups of people gathered around Taliban fighters, joining them in a chant with “Death to Mir Alam!”

If the battle for Kunduz exposed Afghan government forces’ weaknesses, it also proved a public relations coup for the Taliban’s tactical and strategic prowess.

German forces were once based in Kunduz and remain in the north. The operations are being aided by U.S. air strikes, which have been targeting key Taliban positions inside Kunduz and on its outskirts.