The Afghanistan government forces, supported by local militias headed by political leaders Turan Ismail Khan and Abdul Rashid Dostum, have launched counterattacks in the north of the country. Together they managed to recapture several areas from Taliban.
The forces of Abdul-Rashid Dostum, under command of his son, are reportedly active in the provinces of Sari-Pul, Badghis, Jowzjan, Faryab, Samangan and Kunduz. Local militias receive assistance from Turkey.
Turan Ismail Khan, mainly supported by Iran, is carrying out attacks in the province of Herat.
Large areas in #Badghis provincial center were cleared of Taliban terrorists during #ANDSF clearing operations.#Taliban terrorists suffered heavy casualties and fled the center of Badghis.
The operations are continues… pic.twitter.com/75lYtfusdt— Ministry of Defense, Afghanistan (@MoDAfghanistan) July 13, 2021
267 #Taliban terrorists were killed, 119 wounded & 4 others were arrested as a result of #ANDSF operations in Nangarhar, Laghman, Kandahar, Herat, Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, Helmand, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Takhar, Kapisa & Kabul provinces during the last 24 hours. &13 IEDs were defused pic.twitter.com/SY2zZ37C1T
— Ministry of Defense, Afghanistan (@MoDAfghanistan) July 13, 2021
Meanwhile, Taliban militants continue their offensive in the Afghan province of Kandahar, seizing military checkpoints, weapons, equipment and key roads.
#Taliban column moves on Spin Boldak tonight SE #Kandahar #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/L5E2OVhpM8
— Dr. Drexluddin Khan Spiveyzai Kayani (Drexy Baba) (@RisboLensky) July 13, 2021
Taliban shared video from the residence of local governor.
During the Taliban offensive in Kandahar, militants seized the residence of the local governor. The security forces continue to resist, but the fall of Kandahar is only a matter of time. pic.twitter.com/4ORixA2Xfl
— Arab News Today (@ArabNewsToday) July 13, 2021
At the same time, Afghan Ministry of defense shares footage of the recent air strikes that were carried out in the same district.
نن کندهار کې د طالب ترهګرو په یو موټر باندې هدفمند هوايي برېد تر سره شو#دملي_دفاع_وزارت pic.twitter.com/LaVQ4QFysV
— Ministry of Defense, Afghanistan (@MoDAfghanistan) July 13, 2021
Amid the on-going clashes all over Afghanistan, Kabul officials are going to visit Doha for another round of negotiations with representatives of the Taliban.
The delegation should reportedly include: Abdullah Abdullah, Hamid Karzai, Yunus Qanooni, Karim Khalili, Mohammad Mohaqiq, Salam Rahimi, Abdul Rashid Dostum, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Sayed Sadat Mansoor Naderi, Enayatullah Baligh and Fatima Gailani.
This comes as Abdullah Abdullah, the head of the High Council for National Reconciliation, and former president Hamid Karzai, said that Kabul expected important steps to be taken in the peace talks within the next few days.
The meeting will take place following the last week’s talks in Tehran.
“Some politicians, including former president Karzai’s close aide Abdul Karim Khurram, said the meeting was “highly constructive” during which the two sides shared recommendations with each other.” – Tolo news reported.