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 […]

Ordinary Afghans and critics on Saturday strongly criticized the Afghan government’s security strategy as the Taliban take over two provincial capitals within the span of only two days. They said that the so-called public uprising forces have not played any crucial role in repulsing the Taliban’s military advancement towards major cities and strategic locations. Footage on social media shows dozens […]

Taliban fighters on Sunday took over government buildings in two provincial capitals, Kunduz and Sar-e Pol, bringing to four the number of capitals in Afghanistan that the insurgent group has seized in the last three days. On Saturday, the Taliban captured Sheberghan, the capital of Jowzjan province, and on Friday, Zaranj, the capital of Nimruz, fell “without a fight,” according […]

An Afghan Air Force pilot was killed by a bomb in Kabul on Saturday, officials said, in an attack claimed by the Taliban. The pilot, Hamidullah Azimi, died when a sticky bomb attached to his vehicle detonated, officials said, adding that five civilians were wounded in the explosion. Azimi was trained to fly U.S.-made UH60 Black Hawk helicopters and had […]

Afghan commandos have launched a clearance operation in Kunduz city to push back the Taliban, the Defense Ministry said. According to the ministry, commandos have already cleared the General Raziq Square in the city and the offices of Afghan National Radio and Television (RTA).

Due to spiking violence, an estimated 330,000 Afghans have been displaced since January; civilian casualties continue to rise. A stalled diplomatic process and growing insecurity in Afghanistan will likely prompt large-scale forced migration to neighboring countries. As the U.S. troop withdrawal proceeds, the U.S. is expanding its plans for temporary accommodations for Afghan special immigrant visa applicants and their families. […]

Kabul was rocked by a massive car bomb and gunfire near the “Green Zone,” on Tuesday, close to the Defense Minister’s home and foreign embassies. No group has yet claimed responsibility, but as the only group believed to be capable of such an attack, many believe the Taliban is the perpetrator. In a show of support for the Afghan government […]