Russian Taliban organizations are trying to prevent the collapse of the ancient city of Mazar- Sharif. The edge of the northern provincial capital, Balkh, became the last battlefield in the war-torn country as the Taliban continued to attack strategic cities after withdrawing foreign troops from Afghanistan.
The group has occupied five provincial capitals since Saturday after expanding control of much of the country in recent months. Afghan government planes bombed areas in Dehdad, the main focus of fighting on Tuesday, nearly 20 kilometers from western Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan's third-largest city near Uzbekistan, said Arab MP Saifor Niazi. “The Taliban fired several missiles at army corps in the area. Fire rises from the complex; people are afraid of fighting and what will happen in the city, “said Niazi
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Arab News that the group had “tightened its network against government forces” in Mazar-i-Sharif, Badakhshan and Baghlan provinces and occupied more territory in much of northern Afghanistan.
After 20 years of war, US-led foreign forces are withdrawing from Afghanistan following a February 2020 agreement in Qatar between Washington and the Taliban, which they removed from power in late 2001.
Despite the agreement between the United States and the Taliban, the group's recent attacks in a lightning-fast attack captured five critical areas, crushed government forces and left them unprotected by outgoing foreign forces.
Kunduz, Sari-Pool, Shibergan and Talokan fell into the hands of the group within days, and experts warned that a possible capture of Mazar-i-Sharif by the Taliban would be a serious loss to the Afghan government and could affect official Kabul. Taj Kabamm, an analyst based in Kabul, told Arab News that, given the strategic importance of Mazar-i-Sharif, where an important key trade frontier was located, the Taliban would try to take control of the city “by force or surrender.” “.
He warned: “Mazar is vital to both the Taliban and the government. The city is besieged by the Taliban from various places. The loss of many cities in the north has shown that the government is unable to repel Taliban attacks. Its fall will be a severe blow to the authorities in Kabul and will lead to the conquest of the remaining parts in the north, which will ultimately also affect the Taliban's further advance towards Kabul. “
Niyazi said the administration of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was responsible for the losses, stressing its “late dispatch of supplies, fuel and assistance to troops.” especially in the province of Balkh.
Afghan officials do not comment, but on Tuesday, August 10, the local Ministry of Defense confirmed the bombing of Taliban positions in Dehdad.
The Taliban's success follows the intensification of air strikes by the US military, which is still in the country, including the resumption of B-52 bombing missions from outside Afghanistan to try to thwart the group's advance.
In anticipation of a complete withdrawal of foreign troops by the end of August, U.S. officials said Monday that “Afghan security forces must defend the country.” “put pressure on the Taliban to end its military offensive and agree on a political settlement,” the State Department said in a statement.
The statement added that during the three-day talks, government and multilateral organizations would emphasize “reducing violence and ceasefire, as well as the commitment not to recognize a government imposed by violence”
The decades-long conflict has led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people and millions of displaced people. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Tuesday that it was supporting medical facilities to treat more than 4,000 people injured in the fighting since August 1. “Hundreds of thousands of civilians are at risk as the fighting intensifies. We are seeing the destruction of homes, medical staff and patients are at enormous risk and damaging hospitals, electrical and water infrastructure, “the committee said in a statement.