Taliban march on 3 more provincial capitals in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan

The advancing Taliban marched on at least three more provincial capitals in the north of Afghanistan a day after capturing Sheberghan, the capital of Jawzjan province, officials confirmed.

Reports emerging from the war fronts suggest multiple groups of the Taliban stormed Sar-e-Pul, Taluqan, and Kunduz, the capital cities of Sar-e-Pul, Takhar, Kunduz provinces, respectively, engaging in deadly clashes with Afghan National Defense and security forces, as well as pro-government local militias.

In a series of tweets, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahed claimed to capture the three cities.

The Taliban also condemned the latest air raids conducted by the Afghan forces and American B52 Bombers against the advancing Taliban in Sheberghan and Lashkargah in Helmand province. “The Islamic Emirate (Taliban) condemns the brutal bombings of civilians, civilian infrastructure, and public places in the strongest terms and considers these incidents a good example exposing the ‘savage face of America’ to the world,” the Taliban said a statement.

Confirming the Taliban attacks in Sar-e-Pul, a local parliamentarian, Hamidullah Baik told Anadolu Agency that the Taliban have captured the governor’s office, main prisons, as well as other key government buildings.

The Afghan Defense Ministry, on the other hand, claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties on the Taliban as well as foreign militants, including Pakistanis and al-Qaeda fighters in mounting air and ground offensives.

“572 Taliban terrorists were killed & 309 others wounded as a result of ANDSF (Afghan National Defense and Security Forces) operations in Nangarhar, Laghman, Ghazni, Paktia, Paktika, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Herat, Farah, Jowzjan, Sar-e Pol, Faryab, Helmand, Nimruz, Takhar, Kunduz, Badakhshan & Kapisa provinces during the last 24 hours,” tweeted the Defense Ministry.

After taking over nearly 200 rural districts last month, the Taliban launched assaults on major cities, marching on Herat, Kandahar, Taluqan, and Lashkargah causing panic and anxiety among millions of civilians.