Taliban seize Afghan-Iran border crossing

The Taliban yesterday seized another key Afghan border crossing, this time with Iran, according to an Afghan official and Iranian media. The seizure is part of a Taliban surge as American troops complete their pullout from Afghanistan.

It was the third border crossing the insurgents have taken in the past week, after previously seizing crossings with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The development came as President Joe Biden said the United States military mission in Afghanistan will conclude on August 31.

The Taliban wins have caused some countries to close their consulates in the region, while Tajikistan has called up reservists to reinforce that country’s southern border with Afghanistan.

An Afghan official said the Taliban yesterday took control the Islam Qala crossing point in western Herat province. The official, who is in Herat, spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release the information to reporters.

Afghan soldiers in the border area of Islam Qala — a major transit route between Afghanistan and Iran — fled from their positions, crossing into Iran, Iranian media reported. The crossing is around 120km west of the city of Herat, the provincial capital.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah

Mujahid tweeted to confirm the taking of Islam Qala and said Taliban fighters entered the Islam Qala town itself, and were greeted warmly by the local residents.

Mujahid also posted a video purporting to show Taliban riding on the back of trucks in Islam Qala and shooting off into the air in celebration as a crowd of men cheered.

Afghanistan has seen a Taliban surge as the American and Nato pullout stepped up over the past few months. On Wednesday, the US Central Command said 90 per cent of the withdrawal of US troops and equipment from Afghanistan is complete. The US says the last troops will be gone by August.

On Monday, the Taliban seized control of several districts from fleeing Afghan forces, several hundred of whom fled across the border into Tajikistan.

Since mid-April, when Biden announced the end to Afghanistan’s “forever war”, the Taliban have made strides throughout the country.

Yesterday, Biden said he didn’t trust the Taliban but trusted the capacity of the Afghan military to defend the Government. He also urged the Afghan Government to reach a peace deal with the Taliban.

Their most significant gains have been in the north, a traditional stronghold of the US-allied warlords who helped defeat the Taliban in 2001.

The Taliban now control roughly a third of all 421 districts and district centres in Afghanistan.

Their victories are also putting pressure on provincial cities and taking away government control of key transport routes.