ToplineLocal officials reported that the Taliban had seized three more provincial capitals in Afghanistan. This means that nine of 34 towns are now under control of the Islamist insurgent group. The Taliban is trying to push for Kabul as the capital while the U.S. troops withdraw from the country.After arriving at a camp in Kabul's northern provinces, displaced Afghans take a rest. Getty ImagesThe Key FactsThe Taliban seized the capitals of Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Farah provinces in the northeast, respectively. Pro-government forces were forced to retreat to the Kelagi desert, which is home to an important Afghan army base. Faizabad, which was once considered a stronghold against the Taliban, fell. Taliban's incessant offensive and huge gains over the last few months have put tremendous pressure on Afghan security forces, who now fight the insurgent group entirely on their own with little support from U.S. troops. Regular forces of the Afghan army have been largely defeated on the battlefield, sometimes fleeing to safety by the hundreds. This has forced small groups and the Afghan air force into the fight against insurgents.Important QuoteAmerican President Joe Biden, who previously supported his decision to withdraw American troops Afghanistan, urged the leaders of Afghanistan to defend their homeland Tuesday evening. Biden said that Afghan leaders must come together. He stated that the Taliban outnumber Afghan troops and must be willing to fight. They have to stand up for themselves and fight for their country.Important BackgroundThe Taliban have launched an aggressive offensive in Afghanistan to retake large areas of the country as the U.S. troop withdrawal draws near. Representatives of the Taliban in Moscow stated last month that they now control 85% of Afghanistan's territory. The Afghan government and security forces have had to consolidate their power in Kabul and other urban centers. Questions have arisen about the capabilities of Afghan security forces. They have been bolstered by the U.S., other western powers and have spent billions training and equipping them. The Taliban's victory on the battlefield has increased the stakes for Kabul, which hopes for the resumption long-stalled peace negotiations in Qatar that could bring an end to the fighting. The Taliban have so far refused to negotiate.TangentHuman rights violations in Taliban-controlled territory have been a source of concern for observers. They also pointed out the brutal tactics employed by the insurgent group against civilians. UNICEF released a statement earlier this week stating that at least 27 children died and 136 were injured in fighting in Kandahar and Khost provinces over a period of 72 hours. These atrocities also show the violence in Afghanistan that preys on already vulnerable children, according to UNICEF.Continue readingTaliban take 3 more Afghan provincial capitals (Associated Press).Biden: Afghan leaders must fight for their country' in the face of Taliban gains (Reuters).UN warns about possible war crimes in Taliban advances (AFP).
