“Everything is moving in the wrong direction.” That’s the assessment of U.S. Intelligence, as the Taliban retakes 11 of 34 provincial capitals in a matter of days.
The United Nations reports more than a thousand civilians have been killed in the fighting in the last month alone. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani met with leaders in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Wednesday in a sign of support for pro-government forces. While the Taliban appears emboldened by a U.S. withdrawal, President Joe Biden says he stands by his decision to leave the country by the end of August.
Joining the discussion:
- Victoria Fontan is the V.P. of Academic Affairs and Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the American University of Afghanistan.
- Michael Kugelman is the Deputy Director of the Asia Program, and Sr. Associate for South Asia at the Wilson Center.
- Ahmad Shah Mohibi is the Founder and President of Rise to Peace.
- Omar Samad served as the Afghan Ambassador to France and Canada and is a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Southeast Asia Center at the Atlantic Council.
For more:
Taliban fighters could isolate Afghanistan's capital in 30 days and possibly take it over in 90, a U.S. defence official told Reuters, citing U.S. intelligence, as the resurgent militants took control of an eighth provincial Afghan capital https://t.co/MDzfejOQg7 1/6 pic.twitter.com/z0JozlQh57
— Reuters (@Reuters) August 11, 2021
Starting as a teenager, Romal Noori risked his life aiding the U.S. war effort in Afghanistan. Now he’s facing a dangerous new reality as the Taliban regain power. https://t.co/0iDvTburhU
— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 11, 2021
Afghanistan is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster. Thousands of Afghan civilians displaced and again dealing with violence, insecurity and heartbreak. Part of my conversation with @bsarwary in Kabul a short time ago. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/xF1D96lCAL
— Asieh Namdar (@asiehnamdar) August 11, 2021
With the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban has been gaining more territory. #CGTNAmerica https://t.co/l2Tn2pmspU
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) August 11, 2021