Suspected Taliban fighters fired rockets at an Afghan hospital, causing extensive damage and destroying the COVID-19 vaccine, but no casualties were reported.
In northern Afghanistan, the Taliban seized the area of Sher Khan Bandar, a dry port on the Tajik border, forcing customs officials and members of the security forces to flee across the border.
Fighting between Afghan forces and militants has intensified in recent weeks, with militants gaining control of more areas as US-led coalition forces prepare to withdraw after two decades of fighting.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied responsibility for the attack on a hospital in eastern Kunar Province, and the provincial health director said the attack had damaged vital equipment.
Aziz Safai, an official with the Kunar health department, said the fire destroyed a variety of vaccines, including police and covid-19.
Many health officials say the actual number of coronavirus infections is much higher than reported because a large number of people could not be tested due to limited resources.
The virus is spreading at a time of growing insecurity among the Afghan people as the insurgency against US forces enters its final phase after May 1, and the Taliban have stepped up attacks on government forces.
A statement from Tajikistan's Border Guards Service said 134 Afghan troops had been allowed to enter Tajikistan from Sherkhan Bandar, about 50km from Kunduz city.
Afghan officials say the Taliban have seized ammunition and armored vehicles in the town after Afghan forces surrendered.
The loss of the commercially important city would be a blow to the US-backed government as it struggles to stem the Taliban's advance in various parts of the country.
In a statement Wednesday, the Taliban said the Taliban-held border trade ports would continue to operate.
He said that along with all trade imports and exports, the routine and administrative affairs of traders would continue uninterrupted.
The militant group also openly invited Afghan security forces and those working for Afghanistan's democratically elected government to join the Taliban regime.
"We will welcome and respect them and send them home with full reassurance,."
The Taliban also instructed its fighters to protect public places, businesses and people's residences in the ongoing clashes and not to harm them.
