The Taliban have taken the strategic Afghan city of Ghazni just 150 kilometres from Kabul, a senior lawmaker and therefore the insurgents said on Thursday.
The city — the 10th capital to fall to the insurgents during a week — lies along the main Kabul-Kandahar highway, effectively serving as a gateway between the capital and militant strongholds within the south.
“The Taliban took control of the key areas of the town — the governor’s office, the police station and therefore the prison,” Nasir Ahmad Faqiri, head of the provincial council, told AFP.
He added that fighting continued in parts of the town but that the capital was largely within the Taliban’s hands.
The Taliban also confirmed capturing the town , consistent with a press release posted by a spokesman on social media.
The Afghan conflict has escalated dramatically since May, when US-led forces began the ultimate stage of a troop withdrawal thanks to end later this month following a 20-year occupation.
The loss of the Ghazni will likely pile more pressure on the country’s already overstretched airforce, needed to bolster Afghanistan’s scattered security forces who have increasingly been stop from reinforcements by road.
In but every week the insurgents have seized 10 provincial capitals and have now encircled the most important city within the north, the normal anti-Taliban bastion of Mazar-i-Sharif.
Fighting was also raging in Kandahar and Lashkar Gar — pro-Taliban heartlands within the south — also as Herat within the west.
Late on Wednesday, the Taliban claimed to possess overrun the heavily fortified jail in Kandahar, saying it had been “completely conquered after an extended siege” which “hundreds of prisoners were released and brought to safety”.
The Taliban frequently target prisons to release incarcerated fighters and replenish their ranks.
The loss of the jail may be a further ominous sign for the country’s second city, which has been besieged for weeks by the Taliban.
The city was once the stronghold of the Taliban— whose forces coalesced within the eponymously named province within the early 1990s — and its capture would function both a huge tactical and psychological victory for the militants.
KABUL AIRPORT BOMBED BY ISIS
It is a clear message to NATO, to exit BEFORE the end of the month !
Taliban is a easier enemy for Daesh and Qaeda – than were the ANA and NATO. This is the 1st step of the open war between the Taliban and Daesh – which will be unleased after the end of the month !
Taliban WANT TO RULE THE NATION – and DAESH WANTS PERPETUAL WAR AND CORRIDORS of complete dominance.It will be impossible to stop DAESH and QAEDA – EXCEPT WITH THE SUPPORT OF NATO !
Unless NATO steps in and recognises Taliban – some regions of Afghanistan, will come under Daesh dominance – BUT NOT THEIR CONTROL,as the Taliban will eventually dislodge them – BUT THAT WILL DESTABILISE THE NATION and FOREIGN INVESTMENTS.
With every passing day,NATO troops reduce and the burden on Taliban for running the nation rises.That is the matrix within which Daesh and Qaeda will excel !
Success by Daesh,will get them funding and more recruits.Pogroms of Minorities and attacks on infra,by Daesh and Qaeda are inevitable – to PROVE TO THE WORLD,THAT TALIBAN WRIT DOES NOT OPERATE,AND THAT THEY CANNOT RUN A NATION !
IN SHORT – CREATION OF CONDITIONS OF CHAOS – WHICH WILL THEN OPEN THE DOORS FOR DRUGS AND ILLEGAL MINING,TO EARN REVENUES,FOR DAESH (LIKE IN IRAQ – WITH OIL)
NATO has to EXIT all its Citizens from Afghanistan ! Else,they will fall into the hands of Daesh and Qaeda – who will barter them, with their men in Guantanamo.
NATO has TO RECOGNISE AND SUPPORT TALIBAN – TO STOP DAESH AND QAEDA – THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION ! IT IS ALSO A LOW COST OPTION !
THERE IS NO WAY THAT THE NATO CITIZENS WILL EXIT AFGHANISTAN , BY THE MONTH END ! NATO HAS TO PRAY THAT THERE IS NO MANPAD ATTACK !
AND SO YOU HAVE THE WORLDS LARGEST HOSTAGE SITUATION – EVER ! dindooohindoo
DISASTER DAY = 31ST AUGUST,2021.THAT IS THE DAY WHEN NATO WILL BE AT ITS WEAKEST AND AT THE MINIMAL NUMBER