As a Taliban fighter stands in front of Ghazni, Afghanistan, on 14 August 2021, he looks on. Reuters
Two-thirds of Afghanistan is now under Taliban control, with half of the provincial capitals.
Experts believe that Afghan forces lack the ability to fight, despite having adequate training and equipment.
Posts are often abandoned by demoralized Afghan soldiers who want to protect their families and not the government.
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The Taliban have gained ground at an incredible rate since the US-led forces began to withdraw from Afghanistan.
Half of the country's 34 provincial capitals have been seized by the insurgents. They also control the second and third largest cities.
-AFP News Agency (@AFP), August 11, 2021
According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials had previously stated that they don't anticipate any provincial capital being seized before fall at the earliest. Reports suggest that Kabul could be in danger within days or even weeks.
In terms of numbers, funding, and arms, the Afghan forces should have the upperhand. How is it possible that the Taliban have gained so much ground in Afghanistan?
According to Foreign Policy, almost $83 billion has been spent by the US on Afghanistan's defense forces since 2001.
While defending his decision to withdraw American troops, Joe Biden stated that "We provided all the tools for our Afghan partners - let's emphasize: all of the tools."
According to experts, the problem is not Afghanistan's training or equipment, but local corruption and demoralized soldiers, who are often unable to fight.
Foreign Policy reported that Afghan police officers have not received payment from the Ministry of Interior for several months.
They also stated that Afghan forces are not always supplied with sufficient arms or food and water.
After the departure of US forces Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, an Afghan National Army soldier watches over Bagram.
The magazine stated that many soldiers and police are posted in areas far away from their homes. Some choose to leave their posts to return home to protect their families.
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A widespread lack of faith in government is evident, as officials from all parts of the country say they won't fight to defend President Ashraf Gani's government.
Enayat Najafizada (founder of the Kabul-based Institute of War and Peace Studies), stated that "the issue of legitimacy" is crucial.
He claimed that Ghani's return to the 2020 presidential elections was corrupted, and the Taliban have capitalized on it.
This, combined with the fact that corrupt officials have taken funds from people's pockets, has caused widespread distrust in the government.
Al Jazeera spoke to residents of Kandahar and Herat who were shocked by the rapid fall of their cities and claimed that government forces didn't fight back.
Official records indicate that there are more than 300,000. However, the BBC reports that it is possible that the actual number is much lower.
According to the outlet, Afghan forces have a history of high casualties, desertions, and a string of corrupt officials claiming salaries for non-existent troops (called "ghost soldiers").
The US Combating Terrorism Center, West Point, estimates that there are 60,000 Taliban core fighters. Additional militia groups and supporters could increase that number to 200,000.
Afghan forces are stretched beyond their capabilities. Reports claim that Taliban are shooting down planes of the air force and assassinating pilots. Pilots often have years of experience and are hard to replace.
Despite being smaller in number, the Taliban have gained momentum through a series of victories.
The Taliban also seize weapon caches from Afghan forces. These weapons are often supplied by the West.
The "sophisticated" equipment of the US military left Afghanistan, but the Taliban offensive allowed them to seize "vehicles and humvees as well as ammunition," Justine Fleischner, of the weapons-tracking group Conflict Armament Research told AFP.
In a televised speech, Ashraf Ghani, the president of Afghanistan, acknowledged the gains made by Taliban leaders on Saturday.
Ghani stated that "Remobilizing the security and defense forces is our top priority" and that necessary measures were in place for this purpose. "My goal is to prevent instability, violence, displacement, and further destruction of my people," Ghani said.
According to Insider, Friday's instructions were given to Kabul staff by the US Embassy in Kabul to destroy sensitive material in the event of a Taliban takeover.
The United States announced that it would send 3,000 troops in order to evacuate Kabul residents. 600 troops were already sent by the United Kingdom.
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