Since mid-April, when US President Joe Biden announced the end to Afghanistan's “forever war”, the Taliban have made strides throughout the country. The Taliban now control roughly a third of all 421 districts and district centres in Afghanistan. He blamed Taliban successes on the poor morale of troops who are mostly outnumbered and without resupplies. “Unfortunately, the majority of the districts were left to Taliban without any fight,” said Mohib-ul Rahman, a provincial council member of Badakhshan province.
In the last three days, 10 districts fell to Taliban, eight without a fight, he said. The areas under Taliban control in the north are increasingly strategic, running along Afghanistan's border with Central Asian states.
Over 300 troops have fled to the neighbouring country of Tajikistan to escape the militants. The provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar are now under Taliban control.
The inroads in Badakhshan are particularly significant as it is the home province of former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was killed by a suicide bomber in 2011. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the fall of the districts and said most were without a fight. The Taliban in previous surrenders have shown a video of Afghan soldiers taking transportation money and returning to their homes.
The US handed over the Bagram airbase to Afghanistan authorities on Friday. Bagram was at the core of the US’ operations in Afghanistan. Dates of when British troops will leave haven’t been announced. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to make an announcement on the future of Britain’s residual troops in Afghanistan on Tuesday, after a meeting of the NSC (national security council). The last of German, Italian and Australian troops withdrew from Afghanistan last week.
(With PTI inputs)
