DUSHANBE, April 19, 2016, Asia-Plus – Afghan authorities say one of commanders of the Taliban movement Muhibulla Haqyar and his seven militants have been killed in an operation conducted by the Afghan government forces on the outskirts of the city of Kunduz.

The operation was conducted on April 17 and Mahbubulla Sahibi, the head of the Qala-i-Zal district, confirmed this information in his interview with Radio Liberty on April 18.  According to him the clash between the government forces and the Mawlawi Haqyar’s group took place some 24 kilometers of Kunduz province’s border with Tajikistan.

Mahbubulla Sahibi also noted that there were mercenaries from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan among the Taliban militants.

Meanwhile Pajhwok Afghan News reports that the provincial council on Monday said the four entrances to Kunduz City, the capital of northern Kunduz province, have been closed against traffic by Taliban militants.

Deputy head of the council, Toryal Kakar told Pajhwok Afghan News the security situation in Kunduz City was deteriorating with each passing day and if urgent steps were not taken, people would face serious problems.

Another member of the provincial council, Amiruddin Wali, said roads connecting Kunduz with Kabul, Takhar and Sherkhan dry port had been closed in the city.

“The militants are active along these roads and traders cannot transport their goods through the transit routes,” he said.

The government has failed in maintaining security in the province, he said and warned if the same situation continued, people would start migrating to other provinces.

Kunduz police chief Brig. Gen. Qasim Jangal Bagh said security forces staged a tactical retreat from Qala-i-Zal headquarters and then recaptured the district center by inflicting casualties on 20 Taliban fighters this morning.

However, a Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the fighters had captured the Qala-i-Zal district and destroyed several military vehicles.

Pajhwok Afghan News also reports that officials of northeastern Takhar province says a dozen Taliban militants were killed and 35 others wounded in clashes with Afghan security forces in the Darqad district on Monday.