The Taliban advanced on Kabul, capturing another important city
The Taliban also took control of Afghanistan's main city, Pul-e-Khumri, and the Taliban remained about 200km from the capital, Kabul.
'According to local officials, ''the Taliban have seized the key Afghan city of Pul-e-Khumri, 140 miles north of the capital Kabul, giving the Taliban control of a strategic road junction, connecting the capital Kabul with the north and west.
According to media reports, the Taliban have seized eight provincial capitals in five days. Earlier, Farah, Aibak, Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul, Taloqan, Sheberghan and Zaranj have also come under Taliban control, while the Taliban have also entered Faizabad, the capital of Badakhshan province.
The Taliban have taken control of all four provinces around Balkh province, and the threat of an attack on the Balkh capital, Mazar-e-Sharif, has also increased.
According to the news agency, as the fighting intensifies, a large number of Afghans are fleeing to the capital Kabul, while in many areas, civilians are trapped in their homes.
Meanwhile, an EU official said that the Taliban had taken over 65% of Afghanistan.