AlHijjah,1436 , 01 October,2015, SPA -- The Afghan government claimed Thursday that it had successfully retaken the northern city of Kunduz from Taliban militants who had controlled the city since Monday, AP reported. President Ashraf Ghani, appearing at a televised press conference with his defense and interior ministers, said the city was retaken in a six-hour assault with no fatalities among the government security forces. He praised the government troops, saying they, "were able to foil one of the most significant operations to have taken place in Afghanistan in 14 years." Ghani warned that the "good news" from Kunduz, "should not make us complacent." "The war is ongoing," he said. Defense Minister Masoom Stanekzai said that sporadic clashes were still taking place as government forces continue to battle pockets of Taliban insurgents. "Small guerrilla forces remain in various neighborhoods. We have to clear all the surrounding areas and open transport links so people can come and go," he said. Interior Minister Noor-ul-Haq Ulumi defended the performance of the government in the initial fall of Kunduz. Hundreds of Taliban fighters apparently entered the city over the recent Eid holiday and lay in wait until their operation to take the city was launched early Monday morning. -- SPA 20:07 LOCAL TIME 17:07 GMT تغريد
