The Taliban have launched a series of offensives in northern Afghanistan in recent days and moved beyond their southern bastions amid the withdrawal of international forces from the country, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
UN envoy for Afghanistan Deborah Lyons said the Taliban had seized 50 of Afghanistan’s 370 counties and was able to establish control over provincial capitals.
Fierce fighting has been raging between the Taliban and government forces in the suburbs of the northern provinces of Faryab, Balkh and Kunduz in recent days, local officials said.
“The Taliban’s strategy is to make a breakthrough and establish a strong presence in the north of the country, which has long withstood insurgent attacks,” said a senior Afghan security official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Deborah Lyons told the UN Security Council that the announcement of plans to withdraw foreign troops had provoked a “seismic quake” in Afghanistan.
Taliban-occupied counties are located near provincial capitals. We can assume that the Taliban are preparing to attempt to seize these capitals after the final withdrawal of foreign forces, Lyons said.
“It seems that the supporters of the conflict are currently prevailing over those who are calling for negotiations,” Lions was quoted as saying by TASS.
The Taliban today established control over the main exit route from Afghanistan to Tajikistan, AFP reports.
–
The rebels already control the main border with Tajikistan and other roads to Tajikistan, as well as counties near the capital of the northeastern province of Kunduz.
Will the United States postpone its withdrawal?
The withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan may be delayed due to the increased Taliban offensive, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said yesterday, but assured that this would not call into question the September 11 deadline.
“Plans could change if the situation changes,” Kirby said in response to a journalistic question about the Taliban’s military victories, which have surrounded several major cities in Afghanistan.
But “there are two things that haven’t changed,” a Pentagon spokesman added. “First, we will complete the full withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan, with the exception of those who remain to defend the diplomatic presence, and second, this will happen by early September, as ordered by the commander-in-chief,” said President Joe Biden.
Joe Kirby also said that the US military continues to provide air support to Afghan forces, but stressed that this support will not last until the last day of the US military presence in Afghanistan.
–
