NEW DELHI (REUTERS)- Afghan government forces recaptured main areas of the northern city of Kunduz from the Taleban in a large offensive in the early hours of Thursday morning (Oct 1), two government officials said.

Details of the operation and which areas were under government control were not immediately clear. "Afghan security forces got control of Kunduz city from Taleban overnight after heavy fighting," Hamdullah Danishi, acting governor of Kunduz, told Reuters by telephone.

"After we got reinforcement and started a massive operation inside Kunduz city Taleban could not resist and escaped. ... We will give a full report soon," he added.

Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter: "It is retaken and being cleared from terrorists, heavy casualty to the enemy."

The Taleban captured Kunduz, the first provincial capital to fall to the insurgents since they were driven from power in 2001, on Monday. Afghan forces, backed by US air strikes, had been struggling for two days to retake the city.