In the past 24 hours, government forces have carried out operations in several provinces, killing 172 people and wounding 107 Taliban militants, the Afghan Defense Ministry said Thursday.
Taliban militants are also constantly attacking the city. The Taliban say they have so far captured 22 of the country’s 34 provincial metropolitan cities. The Taliban have reportedly pushed the front into the capital, Kabul, about 11 kilometers south.
14, a lawmaker in Afghanistan’s Lugar province said the Taliban captured the entire province that day, and pushed the front line to the capital Kabul, about 11 kilometers south of the area.
Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan’s fourth-largest city and the capital of Balkh province, the last major city controlled by the Afghan government in the north, was also captured by the Taliban on the same day.
Currently, Afghanistan’s second largest city, Kandahar, the capital of Kandahar province, and Herat, the capital of Herat, the third largest city, have all been captured by the Taliban. Also on the 14th, The capital of Faryab province, Maimana, was captured by the Taliban after a month of siege.
The Taliban captured 22 provincial councils and controlled two-thirds of the country
Since capturing the first provincial capital city on June 6, the Afghan Taliban have so far captured 22 of the country’s 34 provincial capitals, captured about two-thirds of Afghanistan and formed a siege of the capital, Kabul. It was also reported that during the fighting, the Taliban also seized a number of advanced American equipment, in addition to guns and ammunition, including “Hummer” military vehicles and helicopters, which has improved its combat effectiveness.
Afghanistan’s president says measures are being taken to stop the unrest
Afghan President Asif Ghani delivered a nationally televised address on the 14th. He said the government is taking major military measures and is working to prevent further unrest and more displacement.
Afghan President Asip Ghani: “In the current situation, our number one priority is to remobilise the security forces and the defence forces, and we are taking significant steps in this regard.” I know you are worried about your present and future, but I promise that as President, my focus will be on avoiding further deterioration of instability, violence and displacement of people.
Ghani also said that the Afghan government has begun extensive consultations with tribal elders, politicians and the international community, and will soon announce the results of the meeting.
