The Taliban took control of the city of Shibirghan in Jowzjan on Saturday, as announced by the deputy governor, marking the second provincial capital captured by the group in less than 24 hours. Jowzjan's deputy governor, Qadir Malia, told AFP, "Government forces and officials have retreated to the airport."
On Friday, the Taliban took control of the city of Zaranj, the first provincial capital it has captured since launching an offensive alongside the final stages of the withdrawal of foreign troops from the country, according to a senior government official. Nimroz's deputy governor, Roh Gul Khairzad, confirmed to AFP, "I can confirm that... the city of Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province, has fallen into the hands of the Taliban."
Deborah Lyons, the head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, warned that the impending disaster facing Afghanistan would have repercussions beyond the country's borders. Her statements came as the Taliban increased their assaults since U.S. President Joe Biden announced that American troops would leave Afghanistan by September.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani stated on Monday that the United States' "surprising" decision to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan was behind the deteriorating security situation in the country, although he added that his government has a plan to control the situation within six months.
