A Taliban suicide bomber has struck a main square in northern Afghanistan's city of Kunduz where Afghan forces had gathered to defend the city from falling to the group, killing at least 10 soldiers and civilians, officials told Reuters news agency.

The attack followed a major offensive by Taliban on Kunduz in the early hours of Saturday morning, setting off gun battles and air strikes through the day in a bid to gain control of the city located on a key highway providing easy access to much of northern border provinces.

Al Jazeera - Taliban suicide attack on Afghan forces amid Kunduz siege: Report

Taliban attacks second Afghan city as talks with US wrap up

The Taliban has launched an attack on the capital of northern Afghanistan's Baghlan province and gun battles with government forces are ongoing, according to an official, overshadowing increasing expectations over a peace deal between the group and the United States aimed at ending 18 years of war.

There was no immediate word on any casualties but Jawed Basharat, spokesman for the provincial police chief, said on Sunday that fighting continued on the outskirts of Puli Khumri.

Al Jazeera - Taliban attacks second Afghan city as talks with US wrap up