The Taliban entered Pol-e Khomri, the capital of the Afghan province of Baghlan, in the northeast: "The city has been completely conquered, the enemy is fleeing," said a spokesman for the Islamic Emirate.
The Taliban "now control 65% of the territory of Afghanistan": said a senior EU official quoted by Reuters on his website. The insurgents "threaten to capture 11 provincial capitals and deprive Kabul of the support of the government forces stationed in the north," adds the source.
The Afghan Taliban also announced today the reopening of an important border crossing with Pakistan. This is the Spin Boldak crossing which was closed by the Taliban on August 6, when they requested that Pakistan allow people living on both sides of the border to have an identity card or a refugee card. Last month, the Taliban captured the Spin Boldak crossing in southern Kandahar, adjacent to the Pakistani province of Balochistan. Due to the uncertainty, Pakistan had imposed some restrictions on people crossing the border.
"Today the Taliban entered the city center, captured the governor's seat and the police headquarters," said Shahla Abubar, a member of the provincial council of Farah.
Afghan forces repelled the Taliban attack on Mazar-i-Sharif and recaptured the Nahr-i-Shahi sector: the governor of the province of Balkh, of which Mazar-i-Sharif is the capital, announces this, quoted by the media of Kabul.
The Afghan forces, it is specified, were assisted by air support.
The Taliban "now control 65% of the territory of Afghanistan": said a senior EU official quoted by Reuters on his website.
The insurgents "threaten to capture 11 provincial capitals and deprive Kabul of the support of the government forces stationed in the north," adds the source.