Local militias help the Afghan army to fight the Talibans on the outskirts of Herat, Afghanistan on July 10, 2021. (photo: Reuters)

Last week Taliban officials said their fighters have taken control of 85% of the territory of Afghanistan. Although the Afghan government disputed that figure, the claim recalls warnings that all Afghan land would soon be recaptured by the Taliban after the US and its allies are gone.     

Taliban launches more attacks, captures more land

Now that the US has pulled out about 90% of its troops, the Taliban is rapidly retaking land. Taliban fighters armed with heavy weapons have attacked government forces in Herat province, taking control of two important border gates between Afghanistan and Iran and Turkmenistan. One regional official said most of western Herat province was now under Taliban control, except the capital and two nearby districts, Gozara and Injil. But all of Herat falling into the hands of the Taliban is only a matter of time.

Taliban has launched assaults to take control of rural areas across Afghanistan. The Afghan government says Taliban forces have captured territories surrounding big cities and towns, but have been unable to enter city centers due to strong resistance from government troops.

The biggest concern is the fighting capability of Afghan troops without the coalition forces’ backup. Reportedly, more than 1,000 Afghan soldiers have fled to neighboring Tajikistan after clashes with Taliban militias. The number of soldiers captured by the Taliban has not been reported, but it is said to be hundreds.

Worrying future

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that the US is “watching with deep concern” as Taliban insurgents take control of more and more territory in Afghanistan. 

Afghan forces have the capacity to defend their country as they have a competent air force and advanced special forces to tackle the Taliban surge. It’s their job to do that now, Kirby said.

Analysts say it will be hard for the Afghan army to resist the Taliban’s assaults without international support. Some observers agree with a new US intelligence assessment that the Afghan government could fall within six months of the American departure. President Biden said early this week that the US will complete troop withdrawals from Afghanistan by August 31.

A week after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the US, former President George W.Bush launched Operation Enduring Freedom, which began on October 7, 2001, with allied airstrikes on Taliban targets in Afghanistan.