Taliban takes control of two important regions before ceasefire

Kabul : Before the ceasefire coming into effect from Thursday, Taliban took control of two critical regions in Afghanistan. It was announced, on Wednesday, that Taliban took control of the Narkh district, 40 kilometres away from Capital Kabul. Analysts have expressed fears that the control over Narkh, known as the doorway to Kabul, could indicate an attack on capital Kabul. Amrullah Saleh, the First Vice President of Afghanistan, expressed regret that the United States itself has awarded the official status to Taliban.

Last year, the United States signed an agreement with the Taliban and announced its military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Biden succeeded Donald Trump as the US President, retained the decision of military withdrawal. He only announced that instead of May, the withdrawal would be completed in September. Fears are being expressed that the Taliban will gain control over entire Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the US and NATO militaries. The aggressive activities and the violence perpetrated by Taliban, even while the withdrawal is going on, confirm this.

Taliban has increased the intensity of the attacks after the US military withdrawal is confirmed. Taliban has started targeting Afghan military, security agencies, government offices and educational institutions consistently. At the same time, it is making efforts to gain control over maximum Afghan territory. Only last week, Taliban gained control over the Barka district in the Baghlan province. After that, now, it has made its intentions clear by taking control of the Narkh district.

The Afghan internal security ministry informed that the Afghan military and security agencies have withdrawn from the Narkh district. But it was clarified that this withdrawal was a technical retreat. In its statement, the defence ministry said that a campaign would be undertaken soon, to gain control over the Narkh district. The statement published by the Taliban claimed that the police headquarters and military base in the district has been acquired.

Meanwhile, Amrullah Saleh, the First Vice President of Afghanistan, criticised that it was the United States who awarded the official status to Taliban. During an interview with a US news channel, Saleh said that the Doha agreement was signed between the United States and Taliban and accused that the United States will be responsible for the Taliban activities in the coming times.

Saleh expressed an expectation ‘Afghanistan respects the US decision for military withdrawal. But still, the United States will continue with the economic, diplomatic and strategic cooperation with Afghanistan.’