MojNews-Minutes after the government claimed to have cleared a city in northern Afghanistan of insurgents, the Taliban reportedly struck back, killing 10 people and injuring five others, including the police chief.

Nusrat Samimi , Interior Ministry spokesman, confirmed Saturday that a suicide bomber detonated himself with explosives when Police Chief Manzur Stanikzai was briefing journalists in the Kunduz city center.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier, authorities claimed to have pushed the Taliban out of Kunduz , hours after the insurgents stormed the strategically important city.

Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani described the assault as a “failed attack” by the Taliban and questioned their commitment to the peace process and talks with the U.S. in Qatar.