Afghanistan: three capital cities in the hands of the Taliban, including Kunduz

• Afghanistan, the Taliban conquer Kunduz after fierce fighting

• Afghanistan.

  Taliban escalation, rebels advance south, already controlling 9 out of 10 districts

• Wave of Afghan refugees in Tajikistan, 350 cross the border in 2 days

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08 August 2021 The Taliban have tightened their grip on northern Afghanistan, taking three provincial capitals, including the country's second city,

, in the great offensive that the army seems unable to stop.

The cities of

and Kunduz, two provincial capitals in northern Afghanistan, fell into the hands of the Taliban within hours of each other. This was confirmed by officials of the two cities, speaking of intense fighting between the insurgents and local forces. The Taliban also captured

, the third Afghan provincial capital that fell this Sunday, security sources say.

Kunduz, which had already fallen into the hands of insurgents twice in recent years in 2015 and 2016, is a strategic crossroads in northern Afghanistan, between Kabul and Tajikistan. Its conquest is the Taliban's main military success since the start of their offensive in May, launched with the withdrawal of international forces, which must be completed by 31 August.

After occupying vast rural territories without encountering much resistance, the Taliban have concentrated their efforts since the beginning of August on the large cities where the Kabul army has amassed its forces, surrounding several provincial capitals. 

The US embassy urges US citizens to leave Afghanistan "immediately", using the commercial flight options available, because "given the security conditions and the reduced staff, the embassy's ability to assist them is extremely limited. within Kabul, "the diplomatic headquarters said in a note posted on its website.

At the end of April, the country had ordered the departure of non-essential employees of the embassy. Travel warning for Afghanistan remains

: "do not travel due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict and Covid-19. Domestic flights and ground transport routes outside of Kabul are severely restricted and subject to cancellation or closure".