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On the second day the Taliban claimed control of the country’s second and third largest cities, Kandahar and Herat, the Taliban occupied the main city of Rashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan.
At the same time, the United States and Britain stated that they would send thousands of soldiers to help evacuate embassy staff in this war-torn country.
In Qatar, the international envoy participating in the Afghanistan negotiations called for speeding up the peace process as an “urgent matter” and immediately halting attacks on the city.
The following are the latest updates:
Fierce fighting in Pol-e Alam in Logar
A source from Pol-e Alam, the capital of Logar Province, told Al Jazeera that the fierce fighting in Logar continues.
Violent actions are taking place in the area around the governor’s residence, and the capital is described as “besieged.”
Logar borders Kabul and is less than 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the city of Kabul.
Herat mainly controls the Taliban: provincial officials
A provincial official told Reuters that most of Herat, Afghanistan’s third largest city, has been occupied by Taliban militants.
Official Ghulam Habib Hashimo said that government forces only control the airport and a military camp in this city of about 600,000 people, which is close to the Iranian border.
“The family has either left or is hiding in their house,” he said.
Taliban fighters standing on military vehicles on the streets of Herat [Screenshot/AFPTV]The Taliban seize Feruz Koh, Qala-e Naw
Officials said that Taliban militants took control of the city of Feruz Island in Ghor Province in western Afghanistan without any fighting.
According to local councillor Fazel-ul Haq Ehsan and councillor Fatima Kohistani, who represents the province, local officials and security forces have abandoned the city centre, and Taliban militants control all the city’s government Building.
A civil society activist in the city confirmed to Al Jazeera that Ghor Province had fallen into the hands of the Taliban.
“There are armed men everywhere,” he said.
Taliban militants riding motorcycles on the streets of Herat [Screenshot/AFPTV]According to Al Jazeera’s Ali M Latifi, the Taliban also occupied Qala-e Naw, the capital of the western Badghis province.
“Earlier in the summer, the organization briefly took control of the capital before the government regained it within a few hours,” he said.
“Last month, there were reports that an indefinite ceasefire was planned between the Taliban and the local elders. However, in the past 24 hours, fighting has escalated again and the Taliban has now occupied the capital.”
Kandahar residents confirm Taliban takeover
Residents of the city of Kandahar confirmed to Al Jazeera that the second largest city in Afghanistan has fallen into the hands of the Taliban: this is the 12th provincial capital occupied by the armed group within a week.
Early on Friday morning, residents said that the black and white flag of the armed group was hung by the governor’s compound.
The Taliban occupy the city of Rashkar Gah: senior officials
Two officials confirmed that the Taliban had occupied Rashkar Gah, an important city in the southern part of Afghanistan’s Helmand Province, which is the largest province in the country.
Security sources said that military and government officials evacuated the city after reaching an agreement with the organization.
U.S., U.K. will start evacuation flights
The United States and Britain have ordered the deployment of thousands of soldiers to Afghanistan to evacuate their citizens.
The Pentagon stated that it will dispatch about 3,000 more soldiers within 48 hours to help evacuate embassy staff. The US State Department said it will also speed up special immigration visa flights to help Afghans working in the country.
Britain said it will deploy about 600 soldiers to help its nationals and local translators evacuate.
UN Security Council discusses condemning the Taliban
The diplomat said that the UN Security Council is discussing a draft statement that will condemn the Taliban’s attacks on towns that have caused a large number of civilian casualties and threaten to impose sanctions on violations of peace and stability in Afghanistan.
This formal statement, drafted by Estonia and Norway and seen by Reuters, must be unanimously agreed by 15 member institutions.
The text also “strongly confirms that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is not recognized by the United Nations, and declares that it will not and will not support the establishment of any government in Afghanistan or the restoration of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan through military force.”
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