Taliban captures 65 percent of Afghanistan; Ashraf Ghani meets key political leaders in Mazar-e-Sharif

Kabul: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday led a government delegation to Mazar-e-Sharif and held discussions with senior Afghan political leaders Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum and Atta Mohammad Noor on the escalating security situation as the Taliban continued to make rapid territorial gains in the war-wracked country.

According to the Presidential Palace, Ghani’s senior security and political affairs adviser Mohammad Mohaqiq and former mujahideen commander Juma Khan Hamdard accompanied the president.

His visit to Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, comes as the Afghan forces have been successful in repelling a coordinated attack on the city by the Taliban.

In Mazar-e-Sharif, Ghani, Mohaqiq and Hamdard met with political and jihadi leaders, including Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum and Atta Mohammad Noor, Afghan news outlet Ariana news reported.

During the meeting, discussions were held on the situation in the northern provinces where the Taliban have overrun many areas, and on the coordination, equipping and mobilization of civilian forces under the umbrella of security forces.

A security meeting was also held in Mazar and chaired by Ghani, who is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in Afghanistan.

Reports on Monday night indicated the Taliban had gained control of some parts of Baghlan province.

The governor of Badakhshan, Bashir Samim, said that the Taliban had intensified attacks on the city of Faizabad and that troops were forced to retreat to the Warsaj district of neighboring Takhar province.

According to the governor, troops were ambushed 18 times between Faizabad and Warsaj.

Samim said however that working in cooperation with Takhar officials, they are planning to retake some areas.

Meanwhile, making swift territorial gains, the Taliban have now overrun northeastern Badakhshan province.

With the fall of Faizabad as a result of fighting on Tuesday, seven of the nine northern provincial capitals are now under Taliban control.

The government remains in control of only Mazar-e-Sharif and Maimana, the capitals of Balkh and Faryab provinces respectively.

On Tuesday, the militants gained control of Farah City and Pul-i-Khumri, the capitals of Farah and Baghlan provinces.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted photos of militants walking casually past the gates of the Farah police headquarters and the governor´s office.

Meanwhile, fierce fighting is ongoing in southern Kandahar and Helmand provinces.

The Taliban are said to control 65 percent of the country.

Zaranj, capital of western Nimroz, Aybak, capital of northern Samangan, Taloqan, capital of northern Takhar, Sheberghan, capital of Jawzjan, and Sar-e-Pul, capital of northern Sar-e-Pul province so far fallen to the Taliban. (UNI)