The Taliban movement announced that it currently controls 150 of the 407 areas in Afghanistan. At the same time, the US special envoy to Afghanistan Khalilzad opened foreign visits including Qatar, Pakistan and Uzbekistan to discuss ways to reach a political settlement.
The Taliban movement controls most of Badakhshan Province, which borders China, and a large area of Tahar Province, which borders Tajikistan.
In the past period, the movement also controlled some border crossings with Iran and Tajikistan, and expanded its influence in southern Helmand and Kandahar, which are the two historical strongholds of the movement. .
An Afghan security source told Al Jazeera reporters that the Afghan government decided to withdraw from some locations in order to concentrate on maintaining areas of more strategic and economic significance.
Al Jazeera’s Kabul correspondent Nasser Shadid reported that in addition to the four checkpoints in the central province of Bamyan, the Taliban also control parts of the country’s western province of Ghor.
The reporter added that the Afghan army stated that in addition to the Faryab area in Badakhshan province, they also regained the Aliabad area in Kunduz province.
Taliban spokesman Zabihara Mujahid announced that members of the movement destroyed a “Black Hawk” helicopter in a tactical attack at Kunduz Airport.
The movement added that the aircraft provided by the United States to the Afghan army were used against what they called “jihadists.”
A Taliban spokesperson also released a video claiming that this video confirmed the presence of Taliban personnel in Laghman Province, eastern Afghanistan. It is reported that the movement announced control of the province on the 9th.
On the other hand, Fouad Aman, spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Defense, denied the Taliban’s claim that its members attacked Kunduz Airport and shot down a military helicopter.
The spokesperson tweeted through his official Twitter account that what the Taliban said was nothing but lies and toxic propaganda.
In this context, the spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Defense announced that 206 Taliban militants were killed and more than 100 injured in the Afghan army’s bombing of 14 provinces.
Air defense system
On the other hand, after violent attacks across the country, as Taliban militants defeated government forces and continued to make progress, the Afghan authorities installed an air defense system for the Hamid Karzai International Airport in the capital Kabul.
In a press statement issued on the 11th, the spokesperson of the Afghan Ministry of Interior, Tariq Alin, pointed out that the Afghan army has established an air defense system for Kabul Airport.
Alin explained that this air defense system can effectively intercept short-range missiles.
He also stated that members of the security forces are ready to defend their country with their lives.
Hamid Karzai International Airport is one of the most important bridges between Afghanistan and other countries, and it is also the lifeline of the Afghan people.
The airport is under the protection of the Afghan Air Force and is regularly maintained by foreign military agencies.
In the past few days, the conflict between the Afghan security forces and the Taliban movement has been escalating. The background is that US forces are withdrawing from the country. According to US President Joe Biden’s speech to the Americans on Thursday, it is planned to complete the withdrawal task before August 31 this year.
Australia’s withdrawal
On the other hand, Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton confirmed that the country’s army has completely withdrawn from Afghanistan.
Dutton announced that Australia will support and participate in any future actions initiated by the United States when necessary, as long as it is in the country’s national interests or the interests of its allies.
It is worth mentioning that Australia deployed 39,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, of which 41 were killed. Canberra withdrew its combat troops from Afghanistan at the end of 2013, but this did not alleviate the domestic accusations and criticisms of Australian soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
A trip to the U.S.
Politically, Khalilzad, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan, opened foreign visits including Qatar, Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
According to a statement issued by the US State Department, Khalilzad will discuss ways to reach a political solution to the Afghanistan issue as soon as possible during his visit.
The US State Department emphasized that it is “still urgent” for all parties to reach a political consensus, adding that the sooner the two parties reach an agreement on a negotiated settlement, the sooner Afghanistan and the region will reap the fruits of peace, including expansion of regional connectivity, trade and development. .
With the mediation of Qatar and the support of the United States, the Afghan government and the Taliban movement initiated historic peace talks in Doha on September 12, 2020 to end the 42-year armed conflict.
Prior to this, Qatar also played the role of a mediator in the negotiations between the United States and the Taliban movement. The two sides finally signed a historic agreement in late February 2020 to gradually withdraw troops from Afghanistan and exchange prisoners with the United States. Reached a consensus on the issue.
India withdraws employees
In India, due to the steady military progress made by the Taliban movement throughout the country, India announced the withdrawal of its staff from its consulate in the Afghan city of Kandahar.
The chief spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ilindan Bach, said, “Due to the fierce war that broke out near the city, the Indian diplomatic officials working in Kandahar have been recalled.”
The Indian official added that India is paying close attention to the security situation in Afghanistan and has decided that local officials will temporarily take over the management of the Indian consulate in Kandahar.
On the 9th, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on Afghanistan to reduce violence because it will have a direct impact on regional security.
.