![]() ![]() It wasn't immediately clear what happened to Khan, who earlier had been described as under attack with his forces at a government building. Witnesses described seeing Taliban fighters once-detained at Herat's prison now freely moving on the streets. Afghan lawmaker Semin Barekzai also acknowledged the city's fall, saying that some officials there had escaped. But on Thursday afternoon, Taliban fighters broke through the city's defensive lines and later said they were in control. Herat had been under militant attack for two weeks, with one wave blunted by the arrival of warlord Ismail Khan and his forces. Witnesses described hearing sporadic gunfire at one government building while the rest of the city fell silent under the insurgents' control. In Herat, Taliban fighters rushed past the Great Mosque in the historic city - which dates to 500 BC and was once a spoil of Alexander the Great - and seized government buildings. Afghan security forces and the government have not responded to repeated questions from journalists over the days of fighting, instead issuing video communiques that downplay the Taliban advance. The onslaught represents a stunning collapse of Afghan forces and renews questions about where the over $830 billion spent by the US Defense Department on fighting, training those troops, and reconstruction efforts went - especially as Taliban fighters ride on American-made Humvees and pickup trucks with M-16s slung across their shoulders. The Afghan government may eventually be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities in the coming days if the Taliban keep up their momentum. Nicole wallace drone full#The latest US military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months. Peace talks in Qatar remain stalled, though diplomats met throughout the day. ![]() Thousands of Afghan flee homes Thousands of Afghans have fled their homes amid fears the Taliban will again impose a brutal, repressive government, all but eliminating women's rights and conducting public amputations, stonings and executions. Price said the United States would also start sending in daily flights to evacuate Afghan interpreters and others who assisted the Americans and are fearful for their lives due to the Taliban's sweeping offensive. UK defence secretary Ben Wallace said London would send 600 of its own troops to evacuate its nationals and "support the relocation of former Afghan staff who risked their lives serving alongside us". The Pentagon said 3,000 US troops would be deployed to Kabul within the next 24 to 48 hours, underscoring that they would not be used to launch attacks against the Taliban. This is not the wholesale withdrawal," he said. The move is aimed at ending the violence and unrest in the country amid a Taliban resurgence, following the US troops pull-out. 'Kabul offers Taliban power-sharing deal to end violence'Īfghan government negotiators have offered a power-sharing deal to the Taliban during the peace talks in Doha, news agency AFP reported quoting sources. "We are further reducing our civilian footprint in Kabul in light of the evolving security situation," US state department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, while noting the embassy would remain open. Separately, Britain said about 600 troops would be deployed on a short-term basis to support British nationals leaving the country. US sends troops to evacuate embassy staff With security rapidly deteriorating, the United States planned to send in 3,000 troops to help evacuate some personnel from the US Embassy in Kabul. At the weekly briefing of the ministry of external affairs, spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India was “concerned about the While Kabul itself isn't directly under threat yet, the losses and the battles elsewhere further tighten the grip of a resurgent Taliban, who are estimated to now hold over two-thirds of the country and continue to press their offensive. India is closely monitoring the safety and security of Hindu and Sikh minorities in Afghanistan amid reports of atrocities abound as Taliban forces make rapid advances. Closely monitoring safety of Afghan Hindus, Sikhs: Government ![]()
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