Lagatar24 Desk
In a series of conquests led by militants of Taliban, Kandahar was also captured which seems to be a blowing defeat for Afghanistan’s government. All the conquests amid US troops withdrawal from the country show a lack of intent on Afghanistan’s Government and their military forces. Afghanistan was witnessing a surge in violence as the Taliban has intensified its offensive against Afghanistan forces and civilization.
Approximately ten thousand civilians have fled as the Taliban advance to Kabul. As per UN reports, almost one thousand civilians have been killed in these conquests.
“We have no money to buy bread, or get some medicine for my child,” a 35-year-old street vendor who fled northern Kunduz province after the Taliban set fire to his home told the BBC.
The insurgent advance comes as the US and other foreign troops withdraw after 20 years of military operations.
The US is to send nearly 3000 troops to Kabul airport to evacuate a “significant” number of embassy staff on special flights. The UK is deploying 600 troops to support British nationals leaving the country. Staff at the British embassy have been reduced to a core team.
Why is Kandahar so important?
Kandahar is the Taliban’s birthplace, and so taking control of the city of 60,000 people is a significant prize for the militants.
On Wednesday, the Taliban breached Kandahar’s central prison, and on Thursday, images on social media reportedly showed insurgents in the city centre.
Kandhar : Afghanistan‘s turbulent province
Kandahar is considered strategically important because of its international airport, its agricultural and industrial output and its position as one of the country’s main trading hubs.
Meanwhile, Herat, an ancient silk road city, had been under siege for weeks before security forces on Thursday retreated to army barracks. Video on social media shows the insurgents running through a central street firing their weapons, and the Taliban flag was seen flying over the police headquarters.
The US embassy in Kabul said it was hearing reports that the Taliban were executing Afghan troops who were surrendering, saying it was “deeply disturbing and could constitute war crimes”.
An estimated 72,000 children are among those fleeing to the capital in recent days and are mostly sleeping on the streets, according to Save the Children.
Makeshift camps have been established on scrubland on the outskirts of the capital, while many others have reportedly been sleeping on the streets or in abandoned warehouses.
In response to the insurgency, the German government has threatened to end its annual financial support of $500m (£360m) to Afghanistan if the Taliban gains complete control of the country.
Germany has also suspended the forced repatriation of Afghan citizens whose asylum applications have failed. The French and Danish governments say they will also follow the same policy…
