The fall of the city was confirmed on Tuesday by local officials and the rebel movement. “Pol-e Chumri has fallen into the hands of the Taliban, it is everywhere,” said one of the local officials on the phone, in which gunfire could be heard. “Taliban fighters broke the front in several directions during the afternoon. After heavy fighting, officials and security forces left the governor’s headquarters, intelligence services and police headquarters. Heavy fighting continues. Now it is decided where to download, “he added for The Guardian.
–
A Taliban spokesman also announced the fall of the city on Twitter. Footage of the entrance gate with the Taliban flag and its fighters in the city streets appeared on social networks.
–
In total, the movement newly controlled three provincial centers, in the north, in addition to Pol-e Chumri, also the city of Faihabad in the province of Badakhshan, and in the west, Farah.
–
“Last night, troops withdrew from the Taliban for several days in the city of Faihabad. The Taliban ruled the city. Both sides have suffered heavy losses, “AFP quoted a member of the local legislature of Badakhshan Zabihullah Attica as saying.
–
Biden does not regret the download
Despite the Taliban’s rapid advance, US President Joe Biden told the White House on Tuesday that he did not regret the withdrawal of US troops. He added that the war had demanded over a trillion dollars in almost twenty years.
–
“Afghan leaders need to come together. They have to fight for themselves, fight for their nation, “he said, adding that the US also provides government forces with air support, equipment, currency and also money for salaries.
–
As it progressed, the Taliban conquered the north of the country, which had been a stronghold of its opponents since the 1990s. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani therefore arrived on Wednesday morning, accompanied by Mujahideen Jumah commander Khan Hamdrad, in the capital of Balch province, Mazar-e-Sharif, to discuss further action with the local militia commander and former Balch governor, ethnic Tajik Attha Muhammad Nur and one of the leading militia commanders, ethnic Uzbek Abdul Rashid Dostum.
–
The number of refugees is increasing
Fighting in the country has sparked a major humanitarian crisis as the number of civilians killed has risen sharply and 400,000 Afghans have fled their homes.
–
Taliban fighters patrol Kunduz.
Photo: Abdullah Sahil, CTK / AP
The Taliban’s military chief, Muhammad Yakub, son of the late leader Mullah Umar, called in an audio message on Tuesday that Taliban fighters in the conquered territories would not persecute government officials and soldiers. They also do not break into abandoned government buildings, leave marketplaces open and protect shops and banks.
–
The Taliban began the advance in early May, when US troops began to withdraw, and have since taken control of two-thirds of the country’s territory, although it had not previously controlled half.
—
