Afghan officials: Taliban offensive forces thousands from their homes near northern city

Afghan National Army soldiers fire artillery during a battle with Taliban insurgents in the Chahardara district of Kunduz province northern of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 3, 2015. Afghan officials say fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban insurgents in northern Afghanistan has forced thousands of people to flee their homes. Meher Khuda Sabar, an official in the Refugee and Repatriation Ministry, said Sunday around 2,000 families have been displaced since the Taliban launched a surprise attack near the city of Kunduz nine days ago. (AP Photo/Bashir Khan Safi) (The Associated Press)

An Afghan security force aim his weapon during a battle with Taliban insurgents in the Chahardara district of Kunduz province northern of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 3, 2015. Afghan officials say fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban insurgents in northern Afghanistan has forced thousands of people to flee their homes. Meher Khuda Sabar, an official in the Refugee and Repatriation Ministry, said Sunday around 2,000 families have been displaced since the Taliban launched a surprise attack near the city of Kunduz nine days ago. (AP Photo/Bashir Khan Safi) (The Associated Press)

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan officials say fierce fighting between government forces and Taliban insurgents in northern Afghanistan has forced thousands of people to flee their homes.

Meher Khuda Sabar, an official in the Refugee and Repatriation Ministry, said Sunday around 2,000 families have been displaced since the Taliban launched a surprise attack near the city of Kunduz nine days ago.

Sabar, who heads the ministry's internal displacement department, says fighting in villages around Kunduz has forced people into the city.

The Afghan military has rushed reinforcements to Kunduz. NATO troops are present in an advisory and training capacity.

Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffner, spokesman for NATO's Resolute Support mission, says U.S. jets have flown over insurgent positions near Kunduz but did not drop any munitions.