The Taliban have seized three more provincial capitals of Afghanistan
The Taliban have seized three more provincial capitals of Afghanistan.
The Taliban-held cities include Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province.
Earlier, the Taliban seized Shiberghan, the capital of Jawzjan province, and Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province.
The number of Taliban-held cities in northern Afghanistan has risen to five since Friday. Northern Afghanistan has long been considered an anti-Taliban stronghold.
Afghan officials say fierce fighting is under way to retake the Taliban and will soon regain control, while fierce fighting is also raging in Herat's Oral Shakar Gah.
Meanwhile, former US ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan C. Crocker said that the complete occupation of Afghanistan by the Taliban is not easy but the threat of long-term civil war has increased in the country.