Washington/Kabul:
Taliban fighters could isolate Afghanistan’s capital in 30 days and possibly take it more than in 90, a US defence official cited US intelligence as saying, as the resurgent militants made more advances across the nation.
The official, speaking to Reuters on situation of anonymity on Wednesday, mentioned the new assessment of how lengthy Kabul could stand was a outcome of the Taliban’s fast gains as US-led foreign forces leave.
“But this is not a foregone conclusion,” the official added, saying that the Afghan safety forces could reverse the momentum by placing up more resistance.
The Islamists now handle 65% of Afghanistan and have taken or threaten to take 11 provincial capitals, a senior EU official mentioned on Tuesday. Faizabad, in the northeastern province of Badakhshan, on Wednesday became the eighth provincial capital to be seized by the Taliban.
A medical professional based in southern Kandahar mentioned the city was getting scores of bodies of Afghan forces, and some injured Taliban fighters had been also looking for health-related assistance. The fighting was exceptionally intense in Kandahar city, he mentioned, with continuous rocket attacks.
All gateways to Kabul, which lies in a valley surrounded by mountains, had been choked with civilians getting into the city and fleeing violence elsewhere, a Western safety supply there mentioned. It was difficult to inform whether or not Taliban fighters had been also acquiring via, the supply mentioned.
“The fear is of suicide bombers entering the diplomatic quarters to scare, attack and ensure everyone leaves at the earliest opportunity,” he mentioned.
Foreign nations are attempting to make certain their employees leave Kabul swiftly, 5 foreign safety officials told Reuters. One mentioned international airlines had been also becoming asked to evacuate employees.
The Taliban want to defeat the US-backed government and reimpose strict Islamic law. The speed of their advance has shocked the government and its allies.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price mentioned the attacks had been against the spirit of a 2020 agreement.
The Taliban committed to talks on a peace accord that would lead to a “permanent and comprehensive ceasefire,” Price mentioned on Wednesday. “All indications at least suggest the Taliban are instead pursuing a battlefield victory.”
“Attacking provincial capitals and targeting civilians is inconsistent with the spirit of the agreement,” he mentioned.
The Taliban deny targeting civilians.
Price mentioned the United States was working to forge an international consensus behind the want for a peace accord.
He spoke as envoys from the United States, China, Russia and other nations met in Doha with Taliban and Afghan government negotiators in a bid to break a months-lengthy deadlock in peace talks.
The loss of Faizabad was the most up-to-date setback for the government of President Ashraf Ghani, who flew to Mazar-i-Sharif to rally old warlords to the defence of the greatest city in the north as Taliban forces closed in.
Jawad Mujadidi, a provincial council member from Badakhshan, mentioned the Taliban had laid siege to Faizabad prior to launching its offensive on Tuesday.
“With the fall of Faizabad, the whole of the northeast has come under Taliban control,” Mujadidi told Reuters.
HOMELAND
US President Joe Biden mentioned on Tuesday he did not regret his choice to withdraw and urged Afghan leaders to fight for their homeland.
Washington had spent more than $1 trillion more than 20 years and lost thousands of US troops, and continued to provide substantial air assistance, meals, gear and salaries to Afghan forces, he mentioned.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki declined to comment about assessments that Kabul could be overtaken by the Taliban in 90 days, which had been 1st reported by the Washington Post.
“We are closely watching the deteriorating security conditions in parts of the country, but no particular outcome, in our view, is inevitable,” she mentioned.
Psaki mentioned the program to withdraw troops by Aug 31 held and reiterated the administration’s view that Afghan forces have the US assistance they want to fight back.
The Afghans “need to determine … if they have the political will to fight back and if they have the ability to unite as leaders to fight back,” she mentioned.
But the head of the Afghan reconciliation committee mentioned it was clear the Taliban did not think in a political resolution, Al Jazeera reported on Twitter.
“We support reaching a political solution through negotiation and appointing a mediator or mediators to organize the negotiations,” Abdullah Abdullah mentioned.
REGIONAL APPEAL
The Taliban advances have raised fears of a return to energy of the hardline militants who formed in 1994 from the chaos of civil war. They controlled most of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, when they had been ousted by a US-led campaign for harbouring al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.
A new generation of Afghans, who have come of age given that 2001, fears the progress made in places such as women’s rights and media freedom will be squandered.
Afghan officials have appealed for stress on Pakistan to cease Taliban reinforcements and supplies flowing more than the border. Pakistan denies backing the Taliban.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan mentioned Taliban leaders told him earlier this year that they will not negotiate with the Afghan government as lengthy as Ghani remains president.
Ghani is attractive for support from the regional warlords he spent years sidelining as he attempted to project the authority of his central government more than wayward provinces.
The Taliban have captured districts bordering Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan and China, heightening regional safety issues.
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