The security situation in Afghanistan has worsened, with the Taliban marching north and capturing several significant districts amid the continuous withdrawal of American troops from the war-torn country to meet their September 11 deadline.
On Saturday, Al Jazeera reported that over 300 Afghan security personnel were forced to cross over from Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province to Tajikistan after failing to push back the Taliban. Mohib-ul Rahman, a provincial council member, said the security forces’ defeat resulted from the “poor morale of the troops,” with the Taliban both outnumbering them and possessing greater supplies. He added that “unfortunately, most districts were left to the Taliban without any fight.” Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the reports. However, the Afghan Interior Ministry clarified that the Taliban’s capture of these areas was temporary.
Meanwhile, the Tajik State Committee for National Security published a statement on Sunday saying that the decision to allow the entry of Afghan forces was “guided by the principles of humanism and good neighbourliness.”
Since the United States (US) announced in April that it would withdraw all its troops from Afghanistan by September 11, the security situation in the country has been deteriorating even as the Taliban and the Afghan government continue to engage in peace negotiations in Doha. In the past three days, over ten districts have been seized by the Taliban. The group’s rising control over the country is linked to the American troops’ withdrawal. For instance, the Taliban took control over the Panjwai district just days after the American and NATO forces vacated the Bagram base near Kabul, which was used to run security operations against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda for over 20 years. Over the weekend, critical police headquarters and governors’ office buildings were also captured by the group.
The districts that have been seized are of great strategic significance, as most of them are situated along the country’s border with its Central Asian neighbours and effectively give the Taliban control over critical trade routes. The drawdown of troops is likely to create a security vacuum in the war-torn country, leading to greater destabilisation, which would also negatively affect the security of Kabul’s neighbours. Moreover, recent events also portray the Taliban’s lack of commitment to securing a truce in the country, further threatening the prospect of peace.
Security Situation in Afghanistan Worsens as Taliban Takes Control Over Several Districts
As American troops continue to withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban has taken control over several critical districts, forcing Afghan soldiers to flee to Tajikistan.
July 5, 2021
SOURCE: CFR