Monday 14 June 2021
Military withdraws
Taliban capture six districts in Afghanistan
The offensive of the radical Islamic Taliban continues, with success. Since NATO has withdrawn its troops, the Afghan security forces have been falling behind more and more often and are losing district by district militarily or through targeted withdrawal. The rate of loss of territory is enormous.
The militant Islamist Taliban continue to keep the military pressure on the government high in Afghanistan. Six district centers in the country fell to the Islamists within 24 hours. This was confirmed by local officials.
Since the start of the official withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan on May 1, the Islamists have now also conquered 23 of the almost 400 districts. There have been no official figures since 2018 as to who controls which districts in the country. Observers consider the recent territorial gains of the Taliban to be unprecedented – according to UN figures, they had conquered only five districts in the previous year, four of which the government was able to recapture within a few days. However, the Taliban would also have to conquer provincial capitals so that they can make significant military progress and turn the situation in their favor.
Security forces withdrew from several districts
According to provincial councils, since Sunday morning (local time) the Taliban have taken over the district centers of Arghandab (Sabul province), Push-Rod and Lash-e Jawin (Farah), Obe (Herat), Saghar (Ghor) and Sajad (Sar-i Pul) . The security forces withdrew from several districts after military pressure from the Taliban or were brought to safety by the air force, in others they had to flee to nearby government areas. In district centers there is usually a district administration building with the district governor, a police station, a secret service facility, and usually a smaller military base on the outskirts. Whoever controls the district center officially controls the entire district.
Hundreds of security guards have died since the beginning of May. In some districts, after mediation by elders, the Taliban let the security forces withdraw without attacking them. The government now wants to criminalize such mediation. The withdrawal of US and other NATO troops should be completed by September 11th at the latest. The peace talks are stalling.
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