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On August 2nd and 3rd, Taliban reportedly retreated from the city of Herat, after Afghan government forces and a public uprising pushed them back.
The latest deployment of forces from Kabul to assist the Afghan Armed Forces, as well as the militia headed by former warlord “Lion of Herat” Ismail Khan managed to drive the Taliban out of key parts of the provincial capital.
#Herat: 'I can say openly to Afghans that this war, it isn't between Taliban and the Afghan Government. It is Pakistan's war against the Afghan nation. Taliban are their resource and they are working as a servant…' said Ismail Khan, who is fighting against the Taliban in Herat. pic.twitter.com/cvlHTDeF7W
— RTA World (@rtaworld) August 3, 2021
Some call him a “warlord,” others respect him as an “Amir,” Ismail Khan, a former Mujahid in his 70s, picked up his Klashinkov, ran towards his city’s gate to fight an advancing #Taliban army. It was him & his militias who prevented the fall of #Herat city yesterday. pic.twitter.com/gWURhfUV0A
— Sharif Hassan (@MSharif1990) July 31, 2021
“Afghan security forces plus resistance forces launched a big operation in the west of the city,” Jailani Farhad, spokesman for Herat’s governor said.
According to him, Taliban were cleared out of several areas of the city, including Herat’s civilian airport, which is back into operation.
Sensing the Taliban’s retreat, people took to the streets of Herat, chanting “God is great”. The locals announced their support for the government forces and vowed to defend the province.
The move was welcomed by Afghans in other regions, who joined in by creating the hashtags “Herat uprising”.
They also celebrated the advances of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in their fight against the Taliban in southern parts of Herat city. August 2nd was the sixth day of the fighting in Herat, reports Tolo News.
In the city of Herat, the security and defense forces released the national anthem of Afghanistan, and the people of the city greeted their forces with a loud voice of Allah Akbar.#Herat pic.twitter.com/H6RU5MWG9d
— Najibullah Farhodi (@najibfarhodi1) August 2, 2021
First Vice President Amrullah Saleh welcomed the move and tweeted:
Herat is calling. Tonight Herat is chanting loud & clear "All Akbar". God is great. God isn't a toy in the hands of the Talib terrorists. Herat is roaring. God isn't a Pakistani product. Tonight Heratis are either in the street or out on the rooftops showing support to ANDSF.
— Amrullah Saleh (@AmrullahSaleh2) August 2, 2021
God is Great!
The voice of the people of #Herat in support of Afghan Forces and against the #Taliban
Victory night in Herat! pic.twitter.com/30IMJnf6Y1— Fawad Aman (@FawadAman2) August 2, 2021
Still, the situation in Lashkar Gah is dire, as well as clashes are on-going near Kandahar and many other cities.
Heavy clashes are taking place between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban in several Afghan cities following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from the country. As many as 28 incidents have taken place in the last 24 hours, leading into August 4th.
According to latest figures released by Afghan watchers (till August 3), the Taliban controls 140 provinces, with 151 contested and the government holding 131.
Heavy clashes are taking place between Afghanistan forces and the Taliban in several Afghan cities.
At least 40 civilians have been killed and more than 100 injured in the said time period in fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban in Lashkar Gah, the United Nations said on August 3rd.
Matiullah Khan, the police chief of Nawzad district of Helmand was among those killed in Lashkar Gah and Imdadullah, an advisor of Nangarhar provincial council who worked with US special forces was eliminated in Jalalabad, said Afghan watchers.
Afghan forces battled the Taliban in Lashkar Gah as the fighting intensified in the city in southern Helmand province and the frontline was in District 1 where the US conducted an airstrike on the morning of August 2nd.
As it can be seen above, the public support is rising for Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF), which is fighting the Taliban. In Herat, where United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office was attacked, people raised slogans in favor of the security forces. Reports from local media say that there is no electricity in Herat since the past six days.
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