TALIBAN TAKEOVER
Afghan cities fall like dominoes to Islamic militants
The Taliban have now taken control of six Afghan provincial capitals in a matter of days as American and NATO forces continue to finalize their pullout from the war-torn country.
Militants overran the northern cities of Sar-e Pul and Aibak after more than a week of resistance by Afghan security forces, Afghan officials said Monday.
Government forces have completely withdrawn from Sar-e Pul after several pro-government local militia commanders surrendered to the Taliban without a fight, according to Mohammad Noor Rahmani, the council chief of the northern province.
Militants also seized Aibak, capital of Samangan province, without resistance, deputy governor Sefatullah Samangani told Agence France-Presse.
“The governor accepted and withdrew all the forces from the city,” Samangani said, adding that the Taliban were now in “full control” of Aibak.
A Taliban spokesperson also declared they had taken the city.
The Taliban claimed on Monday they were now moving in on the city of Mazar-i-Sharif.
The Taliban have overrun six cities in the last week, including Kunduz, Zaranj, Shibirghan and Taleqan.
The Taliban overran the city of Kunduz — one of the country’s larger cities — on Sunday and planted their flag on top of a traffic police booth in the main square.
That prompted thousands of residents to flee the city, The New York Times reported.
Militants have been ramping up their push across Afghanistan and are taking control of large swaths of land, mostly in the countryside.
As the Taliban attacks mount, Afghan forces and government troops have started retaliating with airstrikes that are being aided by the United States. That has prompted concerns about civilian victims, with UNICEF on Monday saying it was shocked by the increasing number of child casualties. At least 27 children have been killed in various provinces in the last three days, UNICEF said.
The Taliban offensive is intensifying as US and NATO troops continue to wrap up their withdrawal from the country next month.
The United States announced back in April that it would completely end its military operations in Afghanistan by Sept. 11.
Since then, American troops have gradually been withdrawn from the country after a military presence of nearly 20 years.
Due to the recent spate of violence in the country, the US Embassy in Afghanistan on Saturday urged all Americans to leave “immediately.”
“The US Embassy urges US citizens to leave Afghanistan immediately using available commercial flight options,” the embassy said.
“Given the security conditions and reduced staffing, the Embassy’s ability to assist US citizens in Afghanistan is extremely limited even within Kabul.”