The Taliban have captured the main crossing of the Tajik border in Afghanistan Taliban News

Some security forces are abandoning their posts and fleeing across the border when the Taliban kidnap the Shir Khan Bandar crossing.

The Taliban have captured the main border with Tajikistan in Afghanistan, an Afghan provincial official and army official said on Tuesday that some security forces had left their posts and fled across the border.

The kidnapping of Shir Khan Bandar, in the far north of Afghanistan, about 50 km from the city of Kunduz, is the biggest gain for the Taliban since it intensified operations on May 1 when the U.S. began the final stages of withdrawing troops. .

“Unfortunately this morning and after an hour-long fighting, the Taliban have captured all Shir Khan port and the town and all border checkpoints in Tajikistan,” said Kunduz provincial councilor Khaliddin Hakmi.

Meanwhile, an army officer told the AFP news agency: “We were forced to leave all checkpoints … and some of our soldiers crossed the border into Tajikistan.

“By morning, they (Taliban fighters) were everywhere, hundreds,” he said on condition of anonymity.

Confirmation of the Taliban

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the fighters had crossed the border crossing the Pyanj River.

“Our Mujahideen are in control of all Kunduze border crossings with Shir Khan Bandar and Tajikistan,” he told AFP.

The attack warned the UN special envoy to Afghanistan that the Taliban have taken more than 50 fighters from 370 districts in the country since May and escalating the conflict “leads to increased insecurity for many other countries, both near and far.”

“These captured districts surround the provincial capitals, suggesting that when the Taliban withdraws completely from foreign forces they are putting up positions to try to take those capitals,” UN Secretary-General Deborah Lyons told the UN Security Council special envoy to Afghanistan.

Heavy fighting between the Taliban and Afghan government forces has taken place on the outskirts of the three northern provinces of Faryab, Balkh and Kunduz provinces in recent days, authorities said.

The gains made by the Taliban and the continued withdrawal of the remaining 2,500-3,500 U.S. troops and 7,000 NATO forces have made urgent efforts to find a negotiated end to the protracted conflict in Afghanistan.

Talks between the Qatari government and the Taliban have yet to make progress.

Although Taliban leaders say they are ready to negotiate, observers familiar with the talks say the movements are more focused on making military gains to strengthen their negotiating stance.

Meanwhile, the White House announced this on Sunday President Joe Biden will meet with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, head of the country’s General Council for National Reconciliation, which oversees the government’s negotiating team.

Friday’s meeting, according to a note in the White House, seeks to reaffirm US economic and humanitarian aid “to help the people of Afghanistan, including Afghan women, girls and minorities.”

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said their talks “will continue to discuss how we can work together to ensure that Afghanistan does not once again become a refuge for terrorist groups that pose a threat to its U.S. homeland.”