As the American troops began to withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban has captured the second-biggest dam of the South Asian country on Thursday.

Dahla Dam, which provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for the provincial capital of Kandahar, has been taken over by the group.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/former-afghan-tv-host-nemat-rawan-shot-dead-in-kandahar-383308" hreflang="en">Former Afghan TV host Nemat Rawan shot dead in Kandahar</a>

"We have seized the Dahla Dam in Arghandab," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP.

A few days ago, Taliban had warned the employees of the Dahla Dam against going to work, Kandahar water department chief Tooryalay Mahboobi told AFP.

This has come almost a month after members of the Taliban had blown up a bridge connecting the dam to adjacent districts.

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The taking over the dam is being read as a sign by experts, as the dam was built by the US to help the locals with water for irrigating land in almost seven districts of Kandahar.

Before retreating, the Taliban planted explosives across the area — including in residential complexes — officials said.

As the violence escalated in Afghanistan, the US is now deploying extra military resources to protect the withdrawing American troops and other coalition forces.

The US is still circling the area with heavy bombers and fighter jets in the sky and more will be deployed soon to safeguard all troops and civilian contractors.

As of now, six B-52 long-range bombers and 12 F-18 fighters to protect the departing contingents of 2,500 US service members and 16,000 civilian contractors, said Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

(With inputs from agencies)

As the American troops began to withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban has captured the second-biggest dam of the South Asian country on Thursday. Dahla Dam, which provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for the provincial capital of Kandahar, has been taken over by the group.

As the American troops began to withdraw from Afghanistan, the Taliban has captured the second-biggest dam of the South Asian country on Thursday. Dahla Dam, which provides irrigation to farmers via a network of canals as well as drinking water for the provincial capital of Kandahar, has been taken over by the group. Also read | Former Afghan TV host Nemat Rawan shot dead in Kandahar "We have seized the Dahla Dam in Arghandab," Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi told AFP. A few days ago, Taliban had warned the employees of the Dahla Dam against going to work, Kandahar water department chief Tooryalay Mahboobi told AFP. This has come almost a month after members of the Taliban had blown up a bridge connecting the dam to adjacent districts. Also read | 'Jamaat-Hefazat leaders determined to create Taliban state in Bangladesh' The taking over the dam is being read as a sign by experts, as the dam was built by the US to help the locals with water for irrigating land in almost seven districts of Kandahar. Before retreating, the Taliban planted explosives across the area — including in residential complexes — officials said. As the violence escalated in Afghanistan, the US is now deploying extra military resources to protect the withdrawing American troops and other coalition forces. The US is still circling the area with heavy bombers and fighter jets in the sky and more will be deployed soon to safeguard all troops and civilian contractors. As of now, six B-52 long-range bombers and 12 F-18 fighters to protect the departing contingents of 2,500 US service members and 16,000 civilian contractors, said Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan: US sends reinforcements to exiting troops as Taliban captures second-biggest dam

As the Trump administration prepares US troops to pull out of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-forces-kill-taliban-mastermind-of-ghazni-attack-346451"> Afghanistan</a>, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said today that premature withdrawal should not take place as it could jeopardise the peace negotiations.

Watch:

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The German minister's comments come as Taliban and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-military-dog-gets-victoria-cross-for-charging-al-qaeda-gunman-in-afghanistan-345234">Afghan</a> government officials get ready for the next round of peace talks.

The United States has agreed to withdraw all foreign forces in the country in exchange for security guarantees and for the Taliban's pledge to hold talks with the Ghani government.

"As NATO partners, we want to ensure that we tie further troop reductions in Afghanistan to clear conditions," the German foreign minister said, adding,"to safeguard what we have reached so far, we must not take any rash actions."

"This is why we call on the alliance to have a very close look at how far the conditions for a further withdrawal have been met to avoid sending a wrong message regarding the peace process," Maas added.

Germany had earlier sought "more clarity" on the US plan to pull out of the country.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier met the two sides in Doha calling for "expedited discussions" after talks got underway in September but soon broke down over difference between the Taliban and the government as the violence began to escalate in the region.

Britain's ally the United Kingdom had said that it will follow the United States in reducing troop levels in Afghanistan. "I expect if they (the US) are reducing at some stage, we will come down," defence secretary Ben Wallace had said.

The Pentagon had said earlier that it pull out nearly 2,000 troops from Afghanistan and would ensure the full withdrawal of all troops in mid-2021.

As the Trump administration prepares US troops to pull out of Afghanistan, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said today that premature withdrawal should not take place as it could jeopardise the peace negotiations.

As the Trump administration prepares US troops to pull out of Afghanistan, German foreign minister Heiko Maas said today that premature withdrawal should not take place as it could jeopardise the peace negotiations. Watch: The German minister's comments come as Taliban and Afghan government officials get ready for the next round of peace talks. The United States has agreed to withdraw all foreign forces in the country in exchange for security guarantees and for the Taliban's pledge to hold talks with the Ghani government. "As NATO partners, we want to ensure that we tie further troop reductions in Afghanistan to clear conditions," the German foreign minister said, adding,"to safeguard what we have reached so far, we must not take any rash actions." "This is why we call on the alliance to have a very close look at how far the conditions for a further withdrawal have been met to avoid sending a wrong message regarding the peace process," Maas added. Germany had earlier sought "more clarity" on the US plan to pull out of the country. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had earlier met the two sides in Doha calling for "expedited discussions" after talks got underway in September but soon broke down over difference between the Taliban and the government as the violence began to escalate in the region. Britain's ally the United Kingdom had said that it will follow the United States in reducing troop levels in Afghanistan. "I expect if they (the US) are reducing at some stage, we will come down," defence secretary Ben Wallace had said. The Pentagon had said earlier that it pull out nearly 2,000 troops from Afghanistan and would ensure the full withdrawal of all troops in mid-2021.

Germany warns against 'rash actions' over troop withdrawal from Afghanistan

Hours after signing a peace deal with Washington aimed at ending the Afghan war, Taliban's political chief has met with senior diplomats from countries including Russia, Indonesia and Norway, the hardline Islamist group said in a statement on Sunday.

Hours after signing a peace deal with Washington aimed at ending the Afghan war, Taliban's political chief has met with senior diplomats from countries including Russia, Indonesia and Norway, the hardline Islamist group said in a statement on Sunday. The peace deal between the Taliban and the United States was signed at Qatari capital Doha by US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on hand to witness the ceremony. Soon after the agreement, US President Donald Trump hailed the peace deal and said that he would be soon meeting the Taliban leaders. Baradar met foreign ministers from Turkey, Uzbekistan and Norway in Doha along with diplomats from Russia, Indonesia and neighbouring nations, the Taliban said, a move that signalled the group's determination to secure international legitimacy. "The dignitaries who met Mullah Baradar expressed their commitments towards Afghanistan's reconstruction and development... the U.S.-Taliban agreement is historical," said Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid. "Baradar received congratulatory messages and thanked them (ministers and diplomats) for attending the ceremony," he said. "The fanfare around the signing ceremony proved that many countries are willing to start fresh talks with Taliban leadership... they are also working fast to secure the validation too," Reuters quoted a senior US diplomat, who was present at the signing ceremony in Doha, as saying.

Taliban begins diplomatic outreach following peace deal with US 