Original Title: The Taliban claimed that they captured more than half of Afghanistan’s capital cities and their allies criticized the U.S. withdrawal error
China News Service, August 14 reported that the security situation in Afghanistan has continued to deteriorate in the past week. On the 13th local time, the Taliban claimed that they had captured a number of cities in Azerbaijan and had occupied the capitals of more than half of the 34 provinces. Currently, the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan is preparing to drastically reduce the number of its diplomats, and the British Secretary of Defense said that the U.S. decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was a “wrong”.
The Taliban occupy more than half of the capital of the province
The Afghan Taliban continued to launch a fierce attack on government forces. From the 12th to the 13th, they captured the capitals of 8 consecutive provinces. The Taliban claimed that they had occupied the capitals of more than half of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan, including the country’s second largest city Kandahar and the third largest city of Herat. And Pule Alam, which is only 50 kilometers away from the capital Kabul.
The Afghan government has not yet responded to the city that the Taliban claimed to be occupied on the 13th.
In addition, the report pointed out that the Taliban not only greatly expanded the land they captured, but also gained more economic resources. At present, the Taliban control some important border crossings, including Spinbuldak, the main gateway to Pakistan.
US President Biden announced in April this year that the withdrawal of US troops in Afghanistan will begin on May 1. On July 8, Biden stated that the US military mission in Afghanistan will end on August 31. As the U.S. forces accelerate their withdrawal from Afghanistan, the fighting between the Afghan government forces and the Taliban has become increasingly fierce, and the local security situation has continued to deteriorate.
US President Biden.U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan urgently destroys confidential documents
The US Department of Defense stated on the 13th that the Afghan Taliban is trying to isolate Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and that the US is “deeply worried” about the security situation in Afghanistan.
According to many US media reports, the US Embassy in Kabul has requested employees to destroy confidential and sensitive materials on the 13th. As the Taliban military wins last year and is approaching Kabul, the US Embassy is preparing to drastically reduce the number of its diplomats.
According to reports, in addition to destroying documents, the embassy also requested employees in the memorandum to destroy the embassy or American institution’s logo, the American flag, or items that might be used in misleading propaganda.
In response, a State Department spokesperson said that the embassy in Afghanistan is performing standard operating procedures when downsizing. The day before, the State Department announced that it would reduce the embassy in Afghanistan to the size of only one core group. On the same day, the Pentagon announced the temporary deployment of 3,000 soldiers to assist the evacuation of librarians.
The US media pointed out that these actions call into question Biden’s claim to “continuously provide diplomatic assistance” to the Afghan government.
Data map: Two hundred soldiers from the 48th Infantry Brigade of the Georgia National Guard returned home after completing a nine-month mission in Afghanistan to reunite with their families.Allies criticize U.S. withdrawal decision “wrong”
The report pointed out that NATO diplomats also convened an emergency meeting on the 13th to discuss the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, as well as the evacuation of overseas Chinese from Afghanistan and the reduction of diplomatic personnel.
The British Secretary of Defense Wallace pointed out on the same day that the US decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan was a “wrong” and would lead to a comeback of the “Al Qaeda” organization, and the international community may bear the consequences for this.
Wallace said that under the withdrawal agreement, the British army had no choice but to follow the United States to withdraw from Afghanistan. However, if the security situation in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, the possibility of the British military returning to Afghanistan cannot be ruled out.
The British government announced on the 12th that it will send about 600 soldiers to Afghanistan to help protect and evacuate British citizens.
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