Kabul: The Taliban captured the northern Afghan city of Kunduz in a massive assault today involving hundreds of fighters, and now control a major urban area for the first time since the 2001 US-led invasion.

"Kunduz city has collapsed into the hands of the Taliban," Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi told the Associated Press. The fall of Kunduz marks a major setback for government forces, who have struggled to combat the Taliban since the US and NATO shifted to a supporting role at the end of last year.