The Afghan government’s failure to provide accountability for violence against women and girls has undermined progress to protect women’s rights, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. Gains by Taliban forces as the United States completes its troop withdrawal leaves the current Afghan state, and women’s rights in particular, uncertain. The 32-page report, “‘I Thought Our Life Might […]

The effort to fend off panic and minimize losses has taken on outsize importance following the seizure of five provincial capitals by the Taliban. First, a remote provincial capital in Afghanistan’s southwest fell. The next day, it was a city in Afghanistan’s north. By Sunday, Taliban fighters had taken three more cities, including their biggest prize yet, the major provincial […]

The UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan is a strategic mistake which could spark a resurgence of terrorism, a former military commander has warned. General Sir Richard Barrons warned the decision to pull out would send a message to countries around the world that leaders in the West ‘don’t have the stomach to see these things through’. It comes as Taliban forces […]

First, a remote provincial capital in Afghanistan’s south-west fell. The next day, it was a city in Afghanistan’s north. By Sunday (Aug 8), Taleban fighters had captured three more cities, including their biggest prize yet, the major provincial capital of Kunduz. All the while, the Afghan central government has acknowledged very little of it. In three days, at least five […]

‘Concerted air campaign is unlikely to change the inroads the Taliban have made,’ says unnamed senior US official Despite the Taliban capturing more cities in Afghanistan, US President Joe Biden will continue with his plans to withdraw American troops from the country, a report said Sunday. The New York Times report, titled “Biden is not changing the US withdrawal plan, […]

Central parts of the city of Sar-e-Pul and many areas in Kunduz city have fallen to the Taliban after heavy clashes between the two sides. Reports indicate that in Sar-e-Pul the governor’s compound, the police headquarters and the NDS office have fallen to the Taliban. Local officials said that security forces are stationed in an army base in Sar-e-Pul and […]

The strategic city of Sheberghan, the capital of Jawzjan province in northern Afghanistan, fell to the Taliban after one week of clashes, sources confirmed. Sources said that security forces are stationed only at the provincial airport in Khwaja Dako district, which is the hometown of former vice president Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum and is located 17 kilometers from the city […]

At least five provincial capitals have reportedly been captured by the Taliban during the past 48 hours as the insurgents intensify their offensive that was launched in May as foreign forces began the final stages of their withdrawal. The Taliban have captured key government buildings in the capital cities of Sar-e-Pul and Kunduz provinces. The insurgent group had earlier on […]

The Taliban seized the stronghold of a notorious Afghan warlord on Saturday as forces and the Taliban were fighting fiercely on Sunday in the centre of Kunduz, a major provincial capital, officials and residents said. According to officials, the second provincial capital to fall to the insurgents in under 24 hours. Another media report said on Sunday that heavy fighting […]

Reports indicate that the Afghan security forces and the Taliban are engaged in fierce fighting in the capital cities of Kunduz, Takhar and Badakhshan provinces in the north of Afghanistan. The Public Health Directorate in Kunduz said that 11 civilians were killed and 39 more were wounded in fresh spate of clashes in the city of Kunduz that started on […]