President Ashraf Ghani addressed the nation through television amid the ongoing violence in Afghanistan. This is his first public remark since the Taliban seized key areas in recent days.
Ghani’s last public appearance was on Wednesday in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, where the rebels launched an all-out attack early Saturday. The Taliban have captured much of northern, western and southern Afghanistan, and are now fighting government forces just 11 kilometers south of the capital, Kabul.
The Taliban’s offensive has gained momentum as the US is about to withdraw its last troop after 20 years of war in the country in less than three weeks. Ghani and other top officials in the government backed by Western countries have remained silent on the recent capture by extremists.
However, in today’s address, the president said he would not let 20 years of achievements go to waste and said “consultations” were continuing amid the Taliban attack. We stand for the interests of our countrymen and will continue to support them.
Under the current situation, remobilizing the Afghan security and defense forces is our top priority: Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, as reported by TOLOnews pic.twitter.com/pwgKgqzjkd
— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2021
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Meanwhile, Taliban militants have captured Warsaz district, the last stronghold of the Afghan government in Takhar province, and further strengthened their position in the country’s northern region. An official gave this information on Saturday.
The official told Xinhua news agency that security forces deployed in Warsaz district had to retreat as Taliban fighters established their hold on Friday evening. Retreating from the security forces, he was forced to move to Panjshir province.
However, the Afghan government has not yet confirmed this. With the capture of Warsaz district, the Taliban has completely tightened its hold on northern Takhar province.
In addition, the armed group, which has captured 17 provinces in the past nine days, is fighting to capture Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of Balkh province, and Maimana in Farah province, to complete its hold in Afghanistan’s northern provinces. Used to be.
