First provincial capital of Afghanistan in face of collapse

Intense fighting between government forces and Taliban fighters is currently raging over control of three key cities in Afghanistan. The government is at risk of losing control of Lashkar Gah in the country’s Helmand province at any time.

According to the BBC, this could be the first fall of any provincial capital of Afghanistan to the Taliban. Despite US and Afghan airstrikes, Taliban fighters are fighting fiercely on the streets to take control of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. The armed group said, it had seized the TV station. Thousands of civilians are fleeing to the villages in search of shelter.

Earlier, the Afghan Defense Ministry said the United States had carried out airstrikes on Taliban targets in Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand province. Seven of their fighters were killed. The Taliban have demanded the seizure of a television station.

Meanwhile, an Al-Jazeera correspondent in Kabul said, Taliban had already stepped up operations in Nangarhar province, where they were fighting the army. Taliban fighters have reached the very center of the province. They are now stationed on various streets near the provincial governor’s compound and police headquarters.

The Taliban have been trying to take control of Kandahar, Afghanistan’s second-largest city, after an attack on an airport on Sunday. Winning Kandahar would be a major victory for the Taliban. Through this they will be able to take control of a large part of the southern part of the country. There has also been intense fighting over control of the western city of Herat over the past few days. Government forces regained control of some areas where the UN office was attacked last Friday.

Although almost all US troops have been withdrawn from Afghanistan, the United States continues to support government airstrikes. President Joe Biden’s administration said on Monday that the decision was made because of the escalating violence.