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On August 15, the Interior Ministry of Afghanistan claimed that the Taliban had started its assault on the country’s capital Kabul.
The city remains the only major city under the control of the government of President Ashraf Ghani.
In it’s turn, the Taliban released an official report, claiming that group had no plans to take Kabul ‘by force’. The order was given to the militants to stop the advance through the city, in which several quarters, in particular, the 13th and 18th, were captured.
At night, the videos were published on social media allegedly showing the Taliban militants on the streets of Kabul.
According to local sources, negotiations between the warring sides are currently taking place.
As the capital is near to fall under the Taliban’s control, Washington is trying to assure the security of its soldiers.
On August 14, US President Joe Biden said that he had authorized a total of 5 thousand US troops to be deployed in Afghanistan “to make sure we can have an orderly and safe drawdown of U.S. personnel and other allied personnel, and an orderly and safe evacuation of Afghans who helped our troops during our mission and those at special risk from the Taliban advance.”
He once again proclaimed his decision to withdraw the US military contingent, pointing out that the resistance to the Taliban should be provided by the Afghans themselves.
“Second, I have ordered our Armed Forces and our Intelligence Community to ensure that we will maintain the capability and the vigilance to address future terrorist threats from Afghanistan.
Third, I have directed the Secretary of State to support President Ghani and other Afghan leaders as they seek to prevent further bloodshed and pursue a political settlement. Secretary Blinken will also engage with key regional stakeholders.
Fourth, we have conveyed to the Taliban representatives in Doha, via our Combatant Commander, that any action on their part on the ground in Afghanistan, that puts U.S. personnel or our mission at risk there, will be met with a swift and strong U.S. military response.
Fifth, I have placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a whole-of-government effort to process, transport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa applicants and other Afghan allies. Our hearts go out to the brave Afghan men and women who are now at risk. We are working to evacuate thousands of those who helped our cause and their families.” – Biden claimed.
Early on August 15, the Taliban claimed another important victory. It took control of Jalalabad, the fifth largest city in Afghanistan and the capital of Nangarhar province that opened a direct root to Kabul for its soldiers.
ANA base in Jalalabad, Nangarhar now under TB control. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/su1YF51QeY
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 15, 2021
There was no fighting for the city and the governor surrendered to the Taliban. Such a decision was made in order to protect civilians and avoid casualties. According to the reports, the Taliban provided a safe corridor for government officials and security forces to leave Jalalabad.
The city of Jalalabad is located in the east of Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan. It was the last of the major cities other than Kabul, which was under the control of the official government.
Among other victories claimed by the Taliban on August 15 morning, there are:
- Bagram district center of Parwan province;
- the city of Khost, the capital of Khost province;
- Maidan Shahr, the capital of Maidan Wardak province;
- Spin Ghar district of Nangarhar province;
- the town of Torkham in Lalpora district of Nangarhar, which borders Pakistan;
- the city of Nili, the capital of Daikundi province;
- Noorgram district center of Nuristan province;
- a large Shikar Qala base in Mohammad Agha district of Logar province.
People were expecting resistance from Hazaras but Bamyan center of Hazarajat fell without resistance. TB just walked in and took control. You can thank the ties that Taliban have built with Hazaras and Shi’ites over the years for this. This is what I call a clean sweep. pic.twitter.com/E9HhV6Eoaa
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 15, 2021
On August 14, 84 Afghan servicemen crossed the state border of Uzbekistan and were detained by border guards. The Afghan soldiers asked the Uzbek side for help. Three of them needed medical assistance.
The Afghan soldiers also accumulated on the Afghan part of the Termez-Khayroton bridge. Tashkent is now negotiating with Afghanistan on their return home and the on the situation at the Termez-Khayroton bridge.
