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The Taliban have captured a big, closely defended metropolis in northern Afghanistan in a significant setback for the federal government.
The autumn of Mazar-e-Sharif, the nation’s fourth-largest metropolis, which Afghan forces and two highly effective former warlords had pledged to defend, fingers the insurgents management over all of northern Afghanistan, confining the Western-backed authorities to the centre and east.
The USA and the UK at the moment are dashing a number of thousand troops again into the nation to evacuate residents amid concern Kabul may quickly be overrun.
Safety forces from Mazar-e-Sharif have been escaping in direction of the border, in keeping with Afzal Hadid, head of the Balkh provincial council.
“The Taliban have taken management of Mazar-e-Sharif,” he stated. “All safety forces have left Mazar metropolis.”
Town appeared to have fallen largely with out a struggle, though sporadic clashes continued close by, he added.
Earlier within the day, the rebels seized a city south of Kabul that is likely one of the gateways to the capital.
Many Afghans have fled from the provinces to the capital, pushed out by preventing and terrified of a return to hardline Islamist rule, as resistance from Afghan authorities forces crumbles.
As night time fell on Saturday, a whole lot of individuals have been huddled in tents or within the open within the metropolis, by roadsides or in automotive parks, in keeping with one resident.
“You may see the concern of their faces,” he stated.
President Ashraf Ghani held pressing talks with native leaders and worldwide companions however gave no signal of responding to a Taliban demand that he resign as a situation for any ceasefire.
His focus was “on stopping additional instability, violence, and displacement of my individuals”, he stated in a quick televised deal with, including that safety and defence forces have been being consolidated.
Qatar, which has been internet hosting so-far inconclusive peace talks between the Afghan authorities and the Taliban, stated it had urged the insurgents to stop fireplace throughout a gathering with their representatives on Saturday.
Earlier the Taliban, going through little resistance, took Pul-e-Alam, capital of Logar province and 70 km (40 miles) south of Kabul, in keeping with an area provincial council member, who spoke on situation of anonymity.
Police officers nonetheless denied studies the Taliban had superior nearer to Kabul from Pul-e-Alam, which is a staging submit for a possible assault on the capital.
The city’s seize got here a day after the insurgents took the nation’s second- and third-biggest cities. The Taliban says it’s near capturing Maidan Shahr, one other city near Kabul.
An Afghan authorities official confirmed on Friday that Kandahar, the most important metropolis within the south and the heartland of the Taliban, was beneath the militants’ management as US-led forces full their withdrawal after 20 years of battle.
The US-led invasion, which ousted the Taliban from energy, was launched after the September 11 assaults on the US in 2001.
Herat within the west, close to the border with Iran, additionally fell to the group. The Taliban stated on Saturday it had overrun the capitals of Kunar, Paktika and Paktia provinces on Afghanistan’s jap border, though this might not be instantly confirmed.
American troops have begun flying in to Kabul to assist in the evacuation of embassy personnel and different civilians, a US official stated on situation of anonymity.
The Pentagon has stated two battalions of Marines and an infantry battalion will arrive in Kabul by Sunday night, involving about 3,000 troops. An infantry brigade fight crew will transfer to Kuwait to behave as a fast response pressure for safety in Kabul if wanted.
Extra reporting by Reuters
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