[ad_1]
Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan Province, became the ninth Afghan city occupied by the Taliban since Friday.
Taliban armed groups have now occupied more than a quarter of Afghanistan’s capital cities in less than a week.
Since Friday, the organization has occupied 9 provincial capitals in Afghanistan, including Faizabad, Farah, Pulkumri, Sarpul, Sheberg Khan, Ibak, Kunduz, and Talloo. Kan and Zaranji.
Since launching a series of offensives in May, the Taliban have occupied most of rural Afghanistan to coincide with the beginning of the final withdrawal of foreign troops.
The following are the latest developments:
The ninth provincial capital of Afghanistan falls into the hands of the Taliban
Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan Province, is the latest city to fall into the hands of the Taliban.
Local councillor Zabihullah Attiq told AFP that security forces had withdrawn from the city after a few days of intense clashes.
“The Taliban have now occupied the city,” he said.
Three other provincial capitals fall into the Taliban: officials
Afghan officials said that since Tuesday, three more provincial capitals have fallen into the hands of the Taliban. During the U.S. withdrawal, 9 of the country’s 34 provincial capitals fell into the hands of the Taliban.
Officials told the Associated Press that the capitals of the provinces of Badakhshan, Baghlan and Farah have all fallen-Faizabad, Pulekumri and Farah respectively.
The Afghan government and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
President Ghani flies to Mazar-e-Sharif
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani flew to the besieged northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif to assemble his embattled army. Taliban fighters have now occupied more than a quarter of the country’s capital cities in less than a week.
According to a statement issued by the palace, he plans to “check the overall security situation in the northern region.”
Afghan leaders may also hold talks with Mazar-i-Sharif’s longtime strongman Atta Mohammad Noor and the notorious militia leader Abdul Rashid Dostum to discuss defending the city when Taliban fighters approach the suburbs.
The loss of Mazar-i-Sharif will cause a catastrophic blow to the Kabul government and represent the complete collapse of its control of the north — a bastion of anti-Taliban militias for a long time.
[ad_2]
Source link