The Taliban attacked Kunduz town in northern Afghanistan on Saturday (August 31st), as Islamist rebels and the United States seem close to an agreement on a withdrawal of US troops deployed in the country.

The insurgents on Friday night launched simultaneous assaults on Kunduz, forcing Afghan forces to seek reinforcements to prevent the militia from extending their hold on the city, report both sides.

Electricity and most of the telephone services have been cut off and residents are hiding out at home.

"The city is completely deserted, the shops are closed, nobody goes out and we hear the sound of heavy and light weapons in several neighborhoods," said a resident, Khaluddin, quoted by Reuters.

Government officials in Kunduz and Kabul accused the Taliban of seeking refuge in the homes, preventing any air raids by US and Afghan forces.

The Interior Ministry said at least 36 Taliban were killed in land and air strikes in three areas of the city.

A raid in the Zakhil neighborhood claimed the lives of 20 Taliban, including two commanders, Afghan security officials said.

According to health officials in Kunduz, fighting also left 3 dead and 41 wounded among civilians.

Negotiations in Qatar

The insurgent spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, confirmed the operation carried out by the Islamists without mentioning a balance sheet.

Kunduz has already been captured twice by the Taliban in recent years.

On Wednesday, the Islamists said they were close to an agreement with the United States that would allow a withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, in exchange for which they would agree that the country does not become a refuge for extremist groups International.

Since the end of 2018, negotiations are taking place in Qatar between Washington emissaries and Taliban delegates in order to put an end to eighteen years of conflict.

Donald Trump, however, announced Thursday that US forces in Afghanistan would be reduced to 8,600 men but that the United States would maintain a presence in the country even if Washington reaches an agreement with the Taliban.

Some 14,000 US troops are currently in Afghanistan, about 5,000 of them serving in counter-insurgency operations.

An American soldier was killed Thursday in Afghanistan, the third in the space of eight days.

With Reuters