MoD rejects Qala-i Zal district of Kunduz collapsed

Afghanistan Ministry of Defense (MoD) has strongly denied the Qala-i Zal district of northern Kunduz province fall into the opposition groups.

“We accept that the security of Kunduz has been deteriorated recently but the Qala-i Zal district of the province has not collapsed into Taliban’s hands,” said Muhammad Radmanish, deputy spokesman of MoD.

However, the spokesman of Spin Zar 808 Zone told Ariananews that the Qala-i Zal district of Kunduz was under Taliban’s control less than 12 hours last night.

At the other side, the Ministry of Interior does not deny the fall of the district but says that now the situation of the district is normal and the insurgent groups pushed back.

“Our security forces succeed to force the militants to retreat and the clearing operations are underway in this district,” said Sidiq Sidiqi, MoI spokesman.

Over the past one week, Afghan security forces have been engaged in fierce armed clashes with insurgents in Kunduz province.

Hundreds of insurgents have been gunned down in a joint military operation launched by Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan National Police (ANP) and National Directorate of Security (NDS).

Security forces have managed to regain control over some restive districts where insurgents had recently laid siege, according to local officials.