Taliban captures three regional capitals in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, it is reported that the Taliban have captured three regional capitals in the country. They seized control of the key northern city of Kunduz on Sunday, as well as Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan.

It means five regional capitals have already fallen to the militants since Friday, with Kunduz being their most important gain this year.

The Taliban said there is no agreement on a ceasefire with the government. Violence has escalated across Afghanistan after US and other international forces began to withdraw their troops from the country, following 20 years of military



operations.

Meanwhile the suspected Taliban fighters killed an Afghan radio station manager in Kabul and kidnapped a journalist in southern Helmand province.  A local government official said that the gunmen shot Toofan Omar, the station manager of Paktia Ghag Radio on Sunday.

A local News Agency reports, at least 30 journalists and media workers have been killed, by the militants so far in the war ravaged country. However, Taliban claimed it had no information on either the killing in Kabul or the abducted journalist in Helmand.