Afghanistan: Taliban seize Jalalabad, Kabul holds its breath

Published on : 08/15/2021 – 05:34

One more. The Taliban took the city of Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday (August 15th), leaving only Kabul, the capital, as a large city still controlled by the government.

“We woke up this morning with the white Taliban flags all over the city. They are in the city. They entered without a fight,” Ahmad Wali, a resident of Jalalabad, told AFP.

The Taliban also claimed responsibility for the capture of the city. “A few moments ago, the mujahideen entered Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province. All areas are now under their control,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, one of their spokespersons.

“There is no ongoing clash in Jalalabad, the government has surrendered to the Taliban,” for his part said an Afghan representative in the city, according to Reuters. “Allowing the entry of the Taliban was the only way to save the lives of civilians.” According to the news agency, a Western security representative also confirmed the capture of the city.

Ten days ahead

Besides Kabul, a handful of minor towns are still under government control. But they are scattered and isolated from the capital, and no longer have great strategic value.

In barely ten days, the Taliban took control of the country’s great major and reached the gates of Kabul which they have now completely surrounded.

On Saturday night, the Taliban captured Mazar-i-Sharif, the fourth largest city in Afghanistan and the main urban center in the north of the country.

The Taliban launched its offensive in May with the start of the final withdrawal of US and foreign troops, which is to be completed by August 31. They first seized large rural areas without encountering much resistance. Then their advance has accelerated dramatically in recent days, with many cities falling into their hands almost as easily.

With AFP and Reuters