ISLAMABAD: Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have surrounded Ghazni, a central in Afghanistan. Latest reports indicate the Taliban have taken over civilians’ homes to fight against the security forces in Afghanistan. Afghan Taliban have already claimed taking over about 85 percent of areas in Afghanistan.
Rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan has left Indians with no other choice but to close their consulate in Kandahar and shift diplomats to India. Meanwhile, India is also closing its consulates outside Kabul where Taliban are advancing their control. Billions of dollars investment of India in Afghanistan are at stake now after the US/NATO troops have suddenly left the war-torn country.
The offensive was the latest on a provincial capital as the Taliban make a fresh push to surround cities and gain territory, emboldened by the departure of foreign forces.
Violence has surged in the country since US President Joe Biden announced in April that American troops would withdraw by Sept 11, ending 20 years in Afghanistan.
The US general leading the war in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, is to relinquish command on Monday, in a symbolic end to America’s longest conflict.
Peace talks between the Taliban and the government have nominally been continuing in Qatar’s capital but officials say they are making little progress.
Clashes between the two sides are also continuing in the southern province of Kandahar where the Taliban traditionally have had a strong presence, locals said. Ghazni is on the main road between Kabul and Kandahar city.
“Since the past four days, armed Taliban are attacking, Kandahar city from the western direction,” said Hamidzai Lalay, a former member of parliament who is fighting with armed men against the Taliban in Kandahar. “Afghan security forces, including special forces, are fighting the Taliban and trying to push them back.”
Fawad Aman, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the situation in Kandahar was “completely under control of ANDSF” which had carried out air and ground operations in recent days.
So far, the Taliban have not been able to hold provincial capitals but they have put pressure on Afghan security forces to respond to offensives around the country. On Sunday, security forces, with the help of air strikes, repelled an assault by Taliban fighters on Taluqan, the provincial centre of a key northern province bordering Tajikistan.
Last week, Taliban fighters entered the capital of the western province of Badghis, seizing police and security facilities and attempting to take over the governor’s office before special forces pushed them back.
