Turmoil has unleashed through Afghanistan since US President Joe Biden announced in April that the American troops would withdraw by September 11, ending 20 years in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
The US general leading the war in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, is to surrender command on Monday, which would signify an end to America\u2019s longest conflict.<\/p>\n
While peace talks between the Taliban and the government have nominally been continuing in Qatar\u2019s capital, officials state they are making little progress.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, clashes between the two sides are also continuing in the southern province of Kandahar while the insurgents appear to be gaining ground swiftly as the Taliban makes strategical moves to surround cities and gain regions, emboldened by the withdrawal of foreign forces.<\/p>\n
Battles between the two sides are also continuing in the southern province of Kandahar where the Taliban is known to have had a powerful presence, locals said. Ghazni is on the main road between Kabul and Kandahar city.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the past four days, armed Taliban are attacking…Kandahar city from the western direction,\u201d said Hamidzai Lalay, a former Member of Parliament who is fighting with armed men against the Taliban in Kandahar. \u201cAfghan security forces, including special forces, are fighting the Taliban and trying to push them back.\u201d Fawad Aman, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said the situation in Kandahar was \u201ccompletely under the control of ANDSF\u201d which had carried out air and ground operations in recent days.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe situation in Ghazni city is very critical…the Taliban use civilian houses as hideouts and fire upon the ANDSF (Afghan security forces), this makes the situation very difficult for the ANDSF to operate against the Taliban,\u201d said Hassan Rezayi, a member of Ghazni\u2019s provincial council.<\/p>\n
Until now, the Taliban has not been able to take provincial capitals but they have put pressure on Afghan security forces to respond to attacks around the country.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, security forces, with the help of airstrikes diluted an assault by Taliban fighters on Taluqan, the provincial centre of a key northern province bordering Tajikistan.<\/p>\n
Last week, Taliban fighters entered the capital of the western province of Badghis, seizing police and security facilities and striving to take over the governor\u2019s office before special forces pushed them back.<\/p>\n
It is a fierce battle, and at present, the Taliban appears to be gaining territory at a fast pace.<\/p>\n