The militants of the radical terrorist movement “Taliban” (forbidden in Russia) seized the city of Aybak – the capital of the province of Samangan in the north of Afghanistan. The Guardian reports this with reference to the deputy governor of this province Sefatulla Santhagani.
It is noted that Aybak became the sixth capital of the Afghan province, which passed under the control of the Taliban. Representatives of the movement entered the city without a fight after the local elders called on to save the Aybak from armed clashes. The governor recalled his soldiers to protect the peaceful population.
“Local security forces and officials retreated on the one hand, and after about 30 minutes the Taliban entered the city on the other hand,” the local official told the publication. According to him, now the Taliban fully controls the headquarters of the police, the governor and intelligence. The official also noted that many civil servants and residents of the capital managed to leave Aybak a few days before capturing.
On August 9, the representative of the Taliban Zabilella Mujahed said that the situation in Afghanistan was completely out of control of the authorities of the country. “Our forces are moving at moderate speed, and Mazar-Sharif will soon fall. We also try to quietly move to other remaining cities,” he stressed.
Despite the rapid offensive of the Taliban, on August 8, US President Joe Biden stressed that it was not going to change his plans to bring troops from Afghanistan by the end of the summer of 2021. According to him, the Afghan government should cope with the militants independently. He also assured that Washington will support Kabul necessary resources.