KABUL: Taliban fighters have captured Mazar-i-Sharif, a major city in northern Afghanistan which was under government control.
The fall of the traditional anti-Taliban bastion marked a major gain for the militants, who have been advancing at speed as US-led forces withdraw, BBC has said.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani traveled to the city just days ago to rally troops.
Meanwhile, the Taliban are in control of much of Afghanistan and are edging closer to the capital Kabul, according to international reports.
Over a quarter of a million people have already been displaced by the violence, and many have fled to Kabul in the hope of finding safety, it said.
Likewise, women in areas captured by the Taliban have described being forced to wear burkas and the militants are also reported to have beaten and lashed people for breaking social rules.
Western countries are also scrambling to evacuate their citizens.
Meanwhile, in a pre-recorded TV address earlier on Saturday, President Ashraf Ghani said a top priority was the remobilization of the Afghan armed forces to prevent further destruction and displacement of people.
Ghani said he would not let a war that was “imposed” on people cause more deaths, as he praised the “courageous” security forces.
(With inputs from BBC)
Comment