More provincial capitals fall as fighting rages

KABUL (Pajhwok): Making swift territorial gains, the Taliban have overrun northeastern Badakhshan province, officials say.

With the fall of Faizabad as a result of fighting on Tuesday, seven of the nine northern provincial capitals are now under Taliban control.

The government remains in control of only Mazar-i-Sharif and Maimana, the capitals of Balkh and Faryab provinces respectively.

After several days of resistance, the security forces in Badakhshan retreated as their calls for air support and reinforcements failed to draw a positive response, one official said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official confirmed 25 of the province’s 27 districts, including the capital, had collapsed.

Also on Tuesday, the insurgents gained control of Farah City and Pul-i-Khumri, the capitals of Farah and Baghlan provinces.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid posted photos of militants walking casually past the gates of the Farah police headquarters and governor´s office.

Meanwhile, fierce fighting is ongoing in southern Kandahar and Helmand provinces. The rebels are said to control 65 percent of the country.

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