Afghanistan Crisis: Govt Officials, 207 Corps Commanders Surrender After Taliban Seize Herat

<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Kabul: </strong>The situation in Afghanistan remains complicated. Nearly two-thirds of the country's regions have been conquered by Taliban fighters so far. As per the Tolo News sources, it is said that after Herat going under Taliban's control, all government officials, including the governor, the police chief, the head of the NDS office, former Mujahideen leader Mohammad Ismail Khan, deputy minister of Interior for security as well as the 207 Zafar Corps commander have surrendered.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Taliban Seized Third Big City</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The Taliban on Thursday seized another strategically important provincial capital and the country's third-largest city, Herat, near Kabul, amid the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan. In addition, the Taliban has so far seized 11 of the 34 provincial capitals.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Herat's seize the biggest success ever for the Taliban. According to eyewitnesses, fierce gunfire was heard from a government building while the rest of the city has been at peace since the Taliban capture. Meanwhile, with Taliban capturing Ghazni, cuts off a crucial highway linking the Afghan capital, Kabul, with the country's southern provinces.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>People Fleeing Afghanistan</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">US and NATO troops invaded Afghanistan about 20 years ago and they ousted the Taliban government. Now, a few weeks before the full retreat of U.S. forces, the Taliban has increased the activities. At present, there is no direct threat to Kabul, but the Taliban's grip on nearly two-thirds of the country seems to be strengthening. Thousands of people have left home because they fear that the Taliban may once again have a repressive rule.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The U.S. military's latest intelligence assessment suggests that Kabul could come under pressure from extremists within 30 days and if the current situation persists, it can control the entire country in a few months.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Possibly, the government has to retract its steps to save the capital and some other cities, as thousands of people are displaced because of the fight, and have fled to Kabul and now they are living in open spaces and gardens. A fierce battle is also going on in Lashkar Gah in southern Afghanistan. If the Taliban attack continues so in the coming days, the Afghan government may be forced to retreat to protect the capital and some other cities.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/odmHZVWb7ws" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>