Sunday June 20th 2021
Government in Kabul under pressure
The Taliban have their sights set on provincial capitals
Since NATO withdrew from Afghanistan, the Taliban have been conquering more and more regions of the country. In the north, the Islamists are now marching towards two provincial metropolises. Meanwhile, President Ghani is traveling to Washington to discuss the situation.
The militant Islamist Taliban continue to militarily attack the government in Afghanistan. Within 24 hours they have conquered at least six other districts in the crisis country, as confirmed by local officials of the dpa. In the provinces of Tachar and Fariab in the north of the country they are now advancing to the provincial capitals, it was said.
In total, since the US and other NATO troops began to withdraw on May 1, the Islamists have captured 41 new districts. Afghanistan is divided into 34 provinces and around 400 districts. According to observers, the Taliban are trying to consolidate their control in areas where they previously had a strong presence. In many newly conquered districts, only the district centers had previously been under government control.
The Afghan security forces are struggling with the low morale of their soldiers and police officers. Several districts were left without a fight. On Saturday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani exchanged interior and defense ministers and filled other key positions in the security sector.
Peace talks are on the spot
The international troops are well advanced in their withdrawal, and the last soldiers should have left the country by September 11th at the latest. On this subject, US President Joe Biden will receive Ghani in the White House next Friday. Together with Ghani, Biden will welcome the chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation in Afghanistan, Abdullah Abdullah, in Washington, said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
The visit of Ghani and Abdullah “will underscore the lasting partnership between the United States and Afghanistan while the military withdrawal continues,” said Psaki. In mid-April, Biden announced that US troops would withdraw by September 11th at the latest. This also ends the NATO mission in Afghanistan. Experts fear an advance by the Taliban.
Psaki has now reiterated that the US has committed itself to providing diplomatic, economic and humanitarian support to the Afghan people even after the withdrawal. The United States also supported the Afghan government’s peace negotiations with the Taliban. However, the talks continue to stand still.
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