Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Taliban claims to have captured 85 percent of the territory Afghanistan on Friday (9/7), as the group’s attacks escalated amid the withdrawal of US troops.
“About 85 percent of Afghanistan’s territory is under our control,” said Taliban negotiator Shahabuddin Delawar, as quoted by Reuters. AFP.
Delawar explained that the territories they captured cover 250 of Afghanistan’s 398 districts.
“All administrative agencies and hospitals are still operating in the area. We are making sure they are functioning,” Delawar said.
He then warned international organizations “not to interfere with their mission.”
During the press conference in Moscow, Delawar also stated that the US was withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan because the Taliban had succeeded in getting citizens to side with them under “Islamic principles.”
“The United States was forced to leave our territory,” he said.
Delawar claimed the takeover of 85 percent of Afghanistan’s territory shortly after the Taliban reportedly seized Afghanistan’s largest crossing with Iran.
“Qala Islamic Port is now under our full control and we will try to operate it today,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told reporters. AFP.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the Afghan government.
Islam Qala itself is a major port in Afghanistan. The route is Afghanistan’s main trade route with Iran.
If confirmed, this would be the second time the Taliban have seized the crossing on the Afghan border since the United States decided to withdraw all troops from the country.
Last month, the Taliban also took over Shir Khan City, Afghanistan’s main border line with Tajikistan.
They managed to seize the route after heavy fighting that saw hundreds of Afghan soldiers flee to Tajikistan.
Afghanistan has vowed to reclaim all of the territory taken over by the Taliban. The day after the incident on the Tajikistan border, Afghanistan deployed hundreds of commandos to fight insurgents in the north.
“There is war, there is pressure. Sometimes things go our way. Sometimes they don’t, but we will continue to defend the Afghan people,” said National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib.
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