Taliban insurgents have made rapid progress across Afghanistan in recent months as US and other foreign forces withdrew.
Thousands have fled their homes in northern Afghanistan to escape battles that have ravaged their towns and villages as government forces try to stop rapidly advancing Taliban forces. Families have been swept away in the capital, Kabul, living in parks and streets with little food or water.
Families described bombings, gunfire and airstrikes in several parts of the north on Tuesday, with civilians caught in the crossfire. Some said that as the Taliban took over the towns, they hunted and killed male relatives of members of police forces and quickly began imposing new restrictions on women.
Such atrocities have fueled the threat of a possible Taliban occupation of Afghanistan as insurgents accelerated the capture of key cities for the first time in recent weeks. But some of those who fled were equally furious at the government.
The following is a list of provincial capitals that have fallen, or are being opposed, by Islamic militants who have been fighting to reintroduce strict Islamic law after being driven out in 2001. There are 34 provinces in Afghanistan.
Provincial capitals under Taliban:
– August 6 – Zaranj. The Taliban took control of the city in the country’s south in Nimroj province, the first provincial capital for the insurgents since they intensified attacks on Afghan forces in early May.
– August 7 – Shebergen. The Taliban announced that they had captured the entire northern province of Jazzan, including its capital, Sheberghan. Heavy fighting is reported in the city, and government buildings have been captured by the rebels. Afghan security forces say they are still fighting there.
– August 8 – SAR-A-PULL. The rebels captured Sar-i-Pul, the capital of the northern province of the same name. It is the first of three provincial centers to fall on the same day.
– August 8 – Kunduz. Taliban fighters took control of the northern city of 270,000 people, which is regarded as a strategic prize because it lies at the gateway to the mineral-rich northern provinces and Central Asia. Government forces say they are resisting the rebels from a military base and airport.
– August 8 – Talokan. The capital of Takhar province, also in the north, falls to the Taliban in the evening. They free the prisoners and force the government officials to flee.
– August 9 – Aybak. The capital of the northern province of Samangan is under the control of Taliban fighters.
– August 10 – Pul-e-Khumri. According to residents, the capital of the central province of Baglan falls under the Taliban.
The provincial capitals are being contested as of Aug. 10:
– Farah. Capital of the Western Province of Farah.
– Herat. Capital of Herat province in the west.
– Lashkargah. Helmand’s capital in the south.
– Kandahar. The capital of Kandahar province in the south.
read all Breaking Newshandjob breaking news And coronavirus news Here
.