File image.
The Taliban continues to advance on different fronts across Afghanistan while facing very little, if any resistance from government forces.
On August 13, the Taliban imposed control of Kandahar, the second largest city in the country. The group’s fighters stormed the southern city a day earlier. Afghan government forces retreated after failing to stop the Taliban.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban began to take control of the whole of Afghanistan. Afghan soldiers began to surrender to the Taliban.#Kandahar#Talibans#PSOSoundsOfFreedom pic.twitter.com/nltxO6Yqfa
— Rashid Khan (@Rashid_OfficiaI) August 13, 2021
In #Kandahar, #troops are fleeing the city in tanks, and the Taliban are pursuing them pic.twitter.com/EhbDSrJr6V
— zubair.Ahmad.kandahari.2 (@VqvYvrHRvcAsE9C) August 12, 2021
Residents of #Kandahar are in awe as they see regime’s security forces speeding away in their armoured vehicles trying to escape. pic.twitter.com/hWTO0Rn1wT
— سنګر پیکار (@paykhar) August 12, 2021
VIDEO circulated by pro-TB channels shows Taliban in NDS HQ in Kandahar city. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/APS5fWAREi
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 13, 2021
TB raised its flag at “Martyrs Square” in Kandahar city. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/svviqTqS7A
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 13, 2021
Kandahar was not the only provincial capital to fall into the hands of the Taliban on August 13. The group also captured the following provincial centers:
- Lashkar Gah, the capital of the southern province of Helmand;
- Qala-e-Naw, the capital of the northwestern province of Badghis;
- Firuzkoh, the capital of the northwestern province of Ghor;
- Tirin Kut, the capital of the central province of Oruzgan.
Close up video showing some of the vehicles that fell to TB at police HQ in Lashkargah, Helmand. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/nqkLcFduOX
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 12, 2021
This morning’s video from Lashkargah city center following Taliban takeover. #Helmand #Afghanistan
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 13, 2021
The capture of Qala-e-Naw the provincial capital of Badghis province. pic.twitter.com/NJEWyWKtVs
— Muhammad Jalal (@MJalal700) August 13, 2021
Qala-e-Naw airport in Badghis in Taliban control. VIDEO circulated by pro-TB accounts. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/Jwy5ncC2rB
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 13, 2021
Locals in Firozkoh went to sleep in govt controlled territory and woke up in Taliban controlled territory. That’s how smooth the surrender was. One more capital goes to Taliban. #Ghor #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/T6vu7kuYkO
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 13, 2021
BREAKING!!!
Het is officieel. De #Taliban vlag wordt gehesen op het centrale plein in #TarinKowt, #Uruzgan is gevallen… pic.twitter.com/XOKrJJdv34
— Roy (@RoyGrinwis) August 13, 2021
In most fallen areas, Afghan government forces, who were trained and equipped by the US, either retreated or defected to the Taliban.
In the northwestern city of Herat, which was captured by the Taliban on August 12, local warlord “Lion of Herat” Mohammad Ismail Khan, was spotted with Taliban fighters. It remains unclear if he defected to the group or was captured by it.
Taliban’s al-Emarah Studio media crew even interviewed Ismail Khan earlier today. #Herat #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/xR3cZhBOmx
— FJ (@Natsecjeff) August 13, 2021
As the Taliban rapidly advances toward the Afghan capital, the Biden administration took the decision to deploy 3,000 troops in the country to facilitate the drawdown of personnel at the US Embassy in Kabul.
With Kandahar, Lashkar Gah, Qala-e-Naw, Firuzkoh and Tirin Kut, the Taliban have seized a total of 15 provincial capitals within a week. More cities will likely fall into the hands of the group in the upcoming few hours. High-level defections are already being reported in Pol-e Alam, the capital of the eastern province of Logar.
