The Taliban has captured the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, marking the first time the militant group has seized a major city since 2001 when it was driven from power by the U.S.-led invasion.
News of Kunduz’s fall was confirmed by Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, who told The Associated Press: “Kunduz city has collapsed into the hands of the Taliban.”
The Taliban’s spokesman had earlier claimed on Twitter that the group had taken the capital of the province of the same name.
The Taliban had besieged Kunduz for months. The northern city is not only an important transport hub, but it was also the Taliban’s northern stronghold before the U.S. invasion. The group already controls large parts of the province.
Mohammad Yousuf Ayoubi, the head of the Kunduz provincial council, told The New York Times the government’s response to the months-long Taliban buildup had been inadequate.
“The central government is neglecting Kunduz and its people,” he told the newspaper. “The local officials are incompetent, which is a major reason for the presence of the Taliban.”
Kunduz city is completely with taliban ANSF are out
— Ehsan (@ehsan_af) September 28, 2015
#kunduz: the city is completely with taliban now, taliban walking inside streets, i am trapped at home
— Ehsan (@ehsan_af) September 28, 2015
Update kunduz photos, taloban inside the city, looking for goverment vehicles pic.twitter.com/WRqqUbVRVr
— Ehsan (@ehsan_af) September 28, 2015
#kunduz: prisoners freed from kunduz main prison pic.twitter.com/DwPRhA8t8y
— Ehsan (@ehsan_af) September 28, 2015
Just took these photos from kunduz main square pic.twitter.com/5R3FDMmiDE
— Ehsan (@ehsan_af) September 28, 2015
#kunduz: taliban looted kabul bank, jewellaries and many govermental banks
— Ehsan (@ehsan_af) September 28, 2015
Kunduz’s fall is a major setback to Ashraf Ghani, who assumed the Afghan presidency exactly a year ago on Tuesday. Violence in Afghanistan has steadily increased since the departure of U.S. and NATO troops last year, and Afghan security forces have been unable to fill the gap.