According to foreign media reports, after fierce fighting with the Afghan government forces, the Taliban announced on August 8 that they would occupy Kunduz, the capital of northern Afghanistan. This is one of the country’s largest cities and the third provincial capital captured by the Taliban in three days. city.
Kunduz is of great significance to the Afghan government. It is considered to be the gateway to the northern provinces and has highways connecting many cities including the capital Kabul. The province where Kunduz is located borders Tajikistan to the north. Criminals smuggle drugs produced in Afghanistan to Central Asia and Europe through this border. Therefore, controlling Kunduz means controlling one of the most important drug smuggling routes in the region.
Local officials told the media that except for the airport, other parts of the city have fallen into the hands of Taliban elements, and people have seen the Taliban flag raised in the center of the city. Buildings and shops in the city were burnt down, and the scene was chaotic.
The militants also invaded another northern city, Sar-e-Pul, which fell within a few hours after Kunduz. Afghan officials insisted that their troops remained in the occupied cities to continue fighting.
After the United States and other countries withdrew troops from Afghanistan, the violent conflict in Afghanistan has continued to escalate. The Taliban initially occupied most of the rural areas, but now they are targeting large towns and cities. Beginning Friday, the organization’s sphere of influence has made rapid progress. It has successively occupied Zaranj, the capital of the southwestern province, Shibergan, the capital of Juzjan Province in the north, and Kunduz, a major town in the north.
In the western city of Herat, the southern cities of Kandahar and Lashkar Gah, the two sides are fighting fiercely.
This year’s violent conflict has resulted in the displacement of thousands of Afghan civilians. A resident told reporters, “Many bombs have been dropped on our villages and the Taliban have come and destroyed everything. We are very helpless and have to leave us. The house, sleeping on the ground with the children, is in a terrible situation.” Another resident said: “There was gunfire. My seven-year-old daughter went out during the fighting and then disappeared. Life or death is still unknown.”
Due to the Taliban’s swift and violent offensive, the United States has stepped up air strikes against Taliban positions. Afghan officials claimed that Taliban had been killed, but the Taliban said that the airstrike hit two hospitals and a school in Lashkar Gah city, and neither side’s claims have been verified.
The US Embassy in Afghanistan condemned the Taliban for “launching a new violent offensive against Afghan cities,” saying that the organization “forced its rule is unacceptable.” It said in a statement: “They show wanton disregard for the welfare and rights of civilians and will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in this country.”
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