Heavy fighting has raged in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz for the third consecutive day as government forces repelled Taliban attacks.
Several hundred Taliban militants attacked Kunduz, a key city in northern Afghanistan, on April 15.
On April 17, insurgents intensified their attacks in several districts around Kunduz in their bid to retake the city that they captured briefly last year.
Kunduz police chief Qasim Jangalbagh told Reuters that militants overnight attacked several police checkpoints in Chardara district on the southwest outskirts of the city, which insurgents used as a base in last year's attack.
In addition, Jangalbagh said government forces repelled a major attack in Charkh Ab, to the east of Kunduz, as Taliban forces sought to stretch the city's defenses.
Kunduz police said 49 Taliban fighters had been killed and another 61 wounded in the past 24 hours.
A police spokesman said four members of the security forces were killed and 11 wounded.
The fighting around Kunduz come days after the Taliban announced the start of its annual spring offensive.
Related
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Ukraine's Long-Distance Drones Take Toll On Russia's Oil Business -- And War Chest
2NATO Chief Rutte Tells RFE: 'Thoughtful Dialogue' Needed On Ukraine
3Brawl Exposes Growing Anti-Chinese Sentiment In Kyrgyzstan
4Tbilisi Accuses EU Of Political Interference After Damning Enlargement Report
5Protests Erupt In Bulgaria Over Budget, Government 'Corruption'
6'Weekend Snipers' Claims Reopen Wartime Trauma In Sarajevo
7Polish PM Tusk Says Railway Explosion 'Act Of Sabotage'
8Tehran Pollution Hits 'Alarming' Level In Latest Environmental Crisis
9They Called Him 'Dr. Evil': The Russian Prison Medic Accused Of Torturing Ukrainian POWs
10How Britain’s Disposable Vape Ban Has Boosted Ukraine’s War Effort
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.