Taliban attack Kunduz in northern Afghanistan

(Patria) – The Taliban have launched a massive attack on one of Afghanistan's largest cities, Kunduz, the country's government announced.

Despite ongoing negotiations with the US to stop the long war, militants continue their attacks in an effort to push foreign forces out of the country.

So far, three lives have been lost and 40 people injured in the attacks. The toll of the bloody attacks is likely to rise as fighting in different parts of the city prevents ambulances from leaving the hospital.

Around 20,000 American and NATO troops remain in Afghanistan after formally withdrawing in 2014. They are engaged in training and supporting government military forces fighting Taliban militants and local groups affiliated with ISIL.

The Taliban continue their bloody campaigns against the civilian population and state security forces, even as their leaders negotiate with the US peace envoy in Qatar for an end to the 18-year-long war.

The US government demands guarantees from the Taliban that Afghanistan will not carry out terrorist attacks like the one on September 11, 2001, which was carried out by al-Qaeda, whose leader was sheltered by the Taliban government, writes The Guardian.

The Afghan population is concerned that a hasty withdrawal of foreign troops would leave the fragile national army behind, and only encourage the Taliban, who would consider the withdrawal their own victory.

The Taliban occupied Kunduz, located in the middle of an agricultural region near Tajikistan, for two weeks in 2015, before withdrawing in the face of an Afghan government military offensive supported by NATO forces.