The Taliban quickly advanced towards Kabul, where they were spotted in the outskirts.
The jihadists said in a statement that they had ordered all fighters not to use force and to abandon anyone who wanted to leave Kabul. Women are urged to go to safe places.
Almost the entire country has taken
This morning, the governor of Jalalabad, eastern Afghanistan, surrendered to the Taliban movement. Now that Jalalabad has also been occupied, according to the local authorities, Muslim extremists have also taken control of the roads linking the country to Pakistan.
Yesterday, the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif had already been captured and the government had lost control of the north of the country.
Within weeks, the Taliban controlled nearly all of Afghanistan. This map shows the areas already under Taliban control:
Save the lives of the citizens
“There is no fighting in Jalalabad because the governor surrendered to the Taliban,” an Afghan official from Jalalabad told Reuters news agency. Allowing the Taliban access was the only way to save civilian lives.
A western security official confirmed the fall of the city. Taliban Now advancing towards the capital, where US embassy employees are being evacuated.
Biden’s warning
Yesterday, US President Joe Biden said in a statement that he would “provide a rapid and robust military response” if the Taliban endangered American personnel in Afghanistan. Biden sent another 1,000 troops to Afghanistan to accompany the evacuation. In total, there are now 5,000 US troops in the country.
The message was conveyed to representatives of Muslim extremists in Qatar. The warning applies to “any Taliban action in Afghanistan that endangers US personnel or our mission there.”
Evacuation of embassy staff
Germany is also preparing to evacuate embassy staff. Bild newspaper reported that military transports will fly to Kabul tomorrow.
Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Germany would do everything in its power to prevent embassy staff from falling into the hands of the Taliban. “We are prepared for all scenarios.” Evacuation plans still need to be formally approved by Parliament.
Almost all other cities passed into the hands of the jihadists without heavy fighting.
