As the Taliban continued to surge across <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/another-provincial-capital-falls-taliban-seizes-ghazni-near-kabul-404819">Afghanistan</a>, Ashraf Ghani's government replaced Afghan Army Chief&nbsp; General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai with General Haibatullah Alizai.

The Taliban offensive has escalated as it has begun annexing provincial capitals. German foreign minister Heiko Maas said the country will not give "another cent" to Afghanistan if the "Taliban take complete control, introduce Sharia law and turn it into a caliphate."

Germany is one of the biggest donor nations to Afghanistan as it sends $504 million to the country. On Thursday, the Taliban seized Ghazni city just 150 kilometres from Kabul as the tenth provincial capital fell to the militant group.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/taliban-advances-key-afghan-city-of-ghazni-404848/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Germany had deployed troops in Afghanistan as part of NATO's mission but it had to pull out as President Biden decided US troops should leave the country.

President Biden had said the US has spent over $1 trillion in the last 20 years on Afghanistan and equipped 300,000 Afghan forces.

"Afghan leaders have to come together, they've got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation," the Biden had said as US troops prepare to pull out of the country by August 31.

Defense Department spokesman John Kirby reiterated the Biden administration's view saying that the Afghan forces have a "numerical advantage" and have an Air Force.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the Afghan government has "tremendous leverage" and US support, however, on the ground&nbsp;the Taliban has kept up its strategic assault.

After sweeping rural Afghanistan and strategic border crossing along Pakistan, Tajikistan and Iran, the Taliban said its forces had moved to Mazar-e-Sharif as President Ghani arrived in the city to boost the morale of his troops.

Heavy fighting is also underway in Herat, Kandahar and Helmand province as the Taliban continues its offensive across Afghanistan.

(With inputs from Agencies)

&nbsp;

As the Taliban continued to surge across Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani's government replaced Afghan Army Chief General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai with General Haibatullah Alizai.

As the Taliban continued to surge across Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani's government replaced Afghan Army Chief General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai with General Haibatullah Alizai. The Taliban offensive has escalated as it has begun annexing provincial capitals. German foreign minister Heiko Maas said the country will not give "another cent" to Afghanistan if the "Taliban take complete control, introduce Sharia law and turn it into a caliphate." Germany is one of the biggest donor nations to Afghanistan as it sends $504 million to the country. On Thursday, the Taliban seized Ghazni city just 150 kilometres from Kabul as the tenth provincial capital fell to the militant group. Watch: Germany had deployed troops in Afghanistan as part of NATO's mission but it had to pull out as President Biden decided US troops should leave the country. President Biden had said the US has spent over $1 trillion in the last 20 years on Afghanistan and equipped 300,000 Afghan forces. "Afghan leaders have to come together, they've got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation," the Biden had said as US troops prepare to pull out of the country by August 31. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby reiterated the Biden administration's view saying that the Afghan forces have a "numerical advantage" and have an Air Force. US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the Afghan government has "tremendous leverage" and US support, however, on the ground the Taliban has kept up its strategic assault. After sweeping rural Afghanistan and strategic border crossing along Pakistan, Tajikistan and Iran, the Taliban said its forces had moved to Mazar-e-Sharif as President Ghani arrived in the city to boost the morale of his troops. Heavy fighting is also underway in Herat, Kandahar and Helmand province as the Taliban continues its offensive across Afghanistan. (With inputs from Agencies)

Ghani government replaces army chief as Taliban's surge continues

The Taliban have taken the strategic Afghan city of Ghazni just 150 kilometres (95 miles) from Kabul. The city lies along the major Kabul-Kandahar highway. It is the 10th provincial city to fall to the Taliban.

Taliban captures 10th provincial city of Ghazni

The Taliban has said that it is committed to the negotiation path in Doha and does not want it to collapse. They said this in connection with the peace talks held in Doha. "We've not closed the political path, the political path is still open," said the Taliban spokesperson.

We've not closed the political path, the political path is still open: Taliban

As a string of Taliban victories show Afghan government forces in disarray, a young general is advancing his reputation on the battlefield and on social media.

Provincial cities in the north have fallen like dominoes this week -- in some cases after government forces retreated or surrendered without a fight -- but in Lashkar Gah, a Taliban heartland, the army appears to be providing stiffer resistance.

Leading them is&nbsp;Sami&nbsp;Sadat, 36, the highest-ranking army officer in southern Afghanistan, in an intense fight in defence of a provincial capital the Taliban are desperate to seize.

And as the insurgents flood social media with images of surrendering Afghan soldiers and snap selfies with locals, the young general is also using Twitter and Facebook as a slick PR tool in the fight against the hardline islamists.

He and the 20,000 men under his command in the 215th Corps have garnered thousands of followers, with their Twitter accounts awash with images of the general&nbsp;among the troops, posing for selfies with young civilians, and meeting local shopkeepers.

On Wednesday the defence ministry tweeted he had been promoted to lead the country's special forces, an announcement widely applauded on the platform.&nbsp;

Sadat&nbsp;remains optimistic despite the Taliban's advances.

"Because I know we are going to win," he told AFP in a phone interview from the frontlines of Lashkar Gah.

"I know this is our country, that the Taliban are failing, that they will fail sooner or later."

Confident, and ruthless

But there is more to him than meets the eye, say fellow officers and friends.

"He is anything but naive," said a security official who asked not to be named.

"He has a very strategic vision and a very deep analysis of what is happening," said a general who was&nbsp;Sadat's colleague at the spy agency.

A graduate of the prestigious King's College in London,&nbsp;Sadat&nbsp;began his military career at the Afghan interior ministry.

He received military training in Germany, Britain, Poland and the United States, and also served in the National Directorate of Security -- Afghanistan's spy agency.

Sadat&nbsp;prefers to talk about his men rather than himself and family -- senior officers and their relatives are particular targets for Taliban hit squads -- and declines even to say where he was born.

But he is also keen to talk about the war, which he does confidently -- and ruthlessly.

"Any Taliban who comes to Lashkar Gah will die or leave disabled for life," he told AFP.

Still, he admits it will take time to fully secure the city.

'Do anything for his soldiers'&nbsp;

On August 4,&nbsp;Sadat&nbsp;called on residents to leave Lashkar Gah so the military could launch an all-out counteroffensive.

But he has still held back, saying he is fearful of hurting those who chose to stay behind.

Sadat&nbsp;described how his forces were going house-to-house to secure neighbourhoods that the Taliban had infiltrated in Lashkar Gah.

"We still find civilians -- especially the elderly and trapped women -- who we take to safer places," he said.

NGOs and the United Nations have repeatedly expressed concern about the violence and the risks incurred by civilians -- threats that include aerial bombardment of suspected Taliban positions in Lashkar Gah by the Afghan military.

The loyalty and respect&nbsp;Sadat&nbsp;appears to command among the troops have been a key factor in the resistance to the Taliban in the city, despite their morale-damaging advances elsewhere in Afghanistan.

"He is not someone who gives orders from the rear while hiding in the humvee," an Afghan security source said.&nbsp;

"He will do anything for his soldiers".

As a string of Taliban victories show Afghan government forces in disarray, a young general is advancing his reputation on the battlefield and on social media. Provincial cities in the north have fallen like dominoes this week -- in some cases after government forces retreated or surrendered without a fight -- but in Lashkar Gah, a Taliban heartland, the army appears to be providing stiffer resistance.

As a string of Taliban victories show Afghan government forces in disarray, a young general is advancing his reputation on the battlefield and on social media. Provincial cities in the north have fallen like dominoes this week -- in some cases after government forces retreated or surrendered without a fight -- but in Lashkar Gah, a Taliban heartland, the army appears to be providing stiffer resistance. Leading them is Sami Sadat, 36, the highest-ranking army officer in southern Afghanistan, in an intense fight in defence of a provincial capital the Taliban are desperate to seize. And as the insurgents flood social media with images of surrendering Afghan soldiers and snap selfies with locals, the young general is also using Twitter and Facebook as a slick PR tool in the fight against the hardline islamists. He and the 20,000 men under his command in the 215th Corps have garnered thousands of followers, with their Twitter accounts awash with images of the general among the troops, posing for selfies with young civilians, and meeting local shopkeepers. On Wednesday the defence ministry tweeted he had been promoted to lead the country's special forces, an announcement widely applauded on the platform. Sadat remains optimistic despite the Taliban's advances. "Because I know we are going to win," he told AFP in a phone interview from the frontlines of Lashkar Gah. "I know this is our country, that the Taliban are failing, that they will fail sooner or later." Confident, and ruthless But there is more to him than meets the eye, say fellow officers and friends. "He is anything but naive," said a security official who asked not to be named. "He has a very strategic vision and a very deep analysis of what is happening," said a general who was Sadat's colleague at the spy agency. A graduate of the prestigious King's College in London, Sadat began his military career at the Afghan interior ministry. He received military training in Germany, Britain, Poland and the United States, and also served in the National Directorate of Security -- Afghanistan's spy agency. Sadat prefers to talk about his men rather than himself and family -- senior officers and their relatives are particular targets for Taliban hit squads -- and declines even to say where he was born. But he is also keen to talk about the war, which he does confidently -- and ruthlessly. "Any Taliban who comes to Lashkar Gah will die or leave disabled for life," he told AFP. Still, he admits it will take time to fully secure the city. 'Do anything for his soldiers' On August 4, Sadat called on residents to leave Lashkar Gah so the military could launch an all-out counteroffensive. But he has still held back, saying he is fearful of hurting those who chose to stay behind. Sadat described how his forces were going house-to-house to secure neighbourhoods that the Taliban had infiltrated in Lashkar Gah. "We still find civilians -- especially the elderly and trapped women -- who we take to safer places," he said. NGOs and the United Nations have repeatedly expressed concern about the violence and the risks incurred by civilians -- threats that include aerial bombardment of suspected Taliban positions in Lashkar Gah by the Afghan military. The loyalty and respect Sadat appears to command among the troops have been a key factor in the resistance to the Taliban in the city, despite their morale-damaging advances elsewhere in Afghanistan. "He is not someone who gives orders from the rear while hiding in the humvee," an Afghan security source said. "He will do anything for his soldiers".

Young Afghan general takes fight against Taliban to social media

Ghazni is situated along the major Kabul-Kandahar highway, essentially serving as an important gateway in Afghanistan between the capital city of Kabul and other Taliban strongholds in the south.

Taliban advances key Afghan city of Ghazni

United States continues to provide significant air support, food, equipment and salaries to Afghan forces, Biden was reported as saying.

'Afghan leaders must come together and fight for themselves': Joe Biden

In Afghanistan, the Taliban is rapidly expanding its power.&nbsp;After a blitz through the north that drove tens of thousands of civilians to abandon their homes for the relative safety of Kabul and other towns, the Taliban took control of six Afghan provincial capitals on Tuesday. 
 
Rashid Khan, the famous Afghanistan cricketer, turned to Twitter to plead to "global leaders" to help bring peace to the country.

"Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos, thousand of innocent people, including children &amp; women, get martyred every day, houses &amp; properties being destructed. A thousand families displaced..Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans &amp; destroying Afghanistan (sic). We want peace," tweeted Rashid Khan.

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos,thousand of innocent people, including children &amp; women, get martyred everyday, houses &amp; properties being destructed.Thousand families displaced.. 
Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans &amp; destroying Afghaniatan🇦🇫. 
We want peace.🙏
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashidkhan_19/status/1425057234300641317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Since May, when the US-led military alliance began withdrawing its soldiers, Afghanistan's long-running conflict has gotten much worse. The drill is expected to be finished by the end of the month.&nbsp; 
 
Watch | Gravitas: What did the U.S. achieve in Afghanistan? Nothing

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-what-did-the-us-achieve-in-afghanistan-nothing-397095/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Following the Taliban's takeover of numerous districts across the nation, US intelligence assessments have warned that the country's civilian government may fall to the jihadist organisation within months of US soldiers leaving.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In Afghanistan, the Taliban is rapidly expanding its power. After a blitz through the north that drove tens of thousands of civilians to abandon their homes for the relative safety of Kabul and other towns, the Taliban took control of six Afghan provincial capitals on Tuesday.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban is rapidly expanding its power. After a blitz through the north that drove tens of thousands of civilians to abandon their homes for the relative safety of Kabul and other towns, the Taliban took control of six Afghan provincial capitals on Tuesday. Rashid Khan, the famous Afghanistan cricketer, turned to Twitter to plead to "global leaders" to help bring peace to the country. "Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos, thousand of innocent people, including children & women, get martyred every day, houses & properties being destructed. A thousand families displaced..Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans & destroying Afghanistan (sic). We want peace," tweeted Rashid Khan. Dear World Leaders! My country is in chaos,thousand of innocent people, including children & women, get martyred everyday, houses & properties being destructed.Thousand families displaced.. Don’t leave us in chaos. Stop killing Afghans & destroying Afghaniatan🇦🇫. We want peace.🙏 — Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) August 10, 2021 × Since May, when the US-led military alliance began withdrawing its soldiers, Afghanistan's long-running conflict has gotten much worse. The drill is expected to be finished by the end of the month. Watch | Gravitas: What did the U.S. achieve in Afghanistan? Nothing Following the Taliban's takeover of numerous districts across the nation, US intelligence assessments have warned that the country's civilian government may fall to the jihadist organisation within months of US soldiers leaving. (With inputs from agencies)

Dear world leaders, don't leave Afghanistan in chaos: Cricketer Rashid Khan

Khalid Noor, the youngest member of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiating Team and son of Atta Muhammad Noor has said that the leader in the Mazar E Sharif will not "abandon the people". Atta Muhammad Noor, a prominent Afghan leader who holds sway in northern Afghanistan especially Balkh province has now himself taking the charge even as the Taliban making territorial gains. Speaking to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Khalid Noor speaking from Mazar E Sharif said," I will be taking part in defending the city. I will be taking part in defending my people and their right. We will not abandon our people." He has graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and then from George Mason University in the US, majoring in conflict analysis and resolution. Khalid is seen as Afghanistan's next generation of leaders and in a way carrying his father's legacy.

Exclusive: Will not abandon our people, says Afghan's Next General Leader Khalid Noor

The situation in Afghanistan is alarming. Taliban has surrounded another key city. A civil war seems 'inevitable'. President Ashraf Ghani wants to arm civilians to fight Taliban. Meanwhile, India has shut down all consulates. Palki Sharma tells you more.

Gravitas: Afghanistan: Civil war now 'inevitable'

Khalid Noor, the youngest member of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiating Team and son of Atta Muhammad Noor, has said that the leader in the Mazar-e-sharif will not "abandon the people".

Atta Muhammad Noor, a prominent Afghan leader who holds sway in northern Afghanistan, especially Balkh province, is now taking the charge even as the Taliban is making territorial gains.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-wants-afghanistans-neighbours-not-to-recognise-govt-imposed-by-force-as-taliban-capture-9th-provincial-capital-404659" hreflang="en">US wants Afghanistan's neighbours not to recognise govt imposed by force as Taliban capture 9th provincial capital</a>

Speaking to WION's Siddhant Sibbal, Khalid Noor, speaking from Mazar-e-sharif said, "I will be taking part in defending the city. I will be taking part in defending my people and their right. We will not abandon our people."

He has graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and then from George Mason University in the US, majoring in conflict analysis and resolution. Khalid is seen as Afghanistan's next generation of leaders and is expected to carry forward his father's legacy.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/i-do-not-regret-my-decision-says-biden-as-two-more-cities-fall-to-taliban-in-afghanistan-404538" hreflang="en">I do not regret my decision, says Biden as two more cities fall to Taliban in Afghanistan</a>

Asked about the Afghan President's visit to Mazar-e-sharif on Wednesday, he said, "We discussed the current situation and recent developments of the security challenges".

Here is the detailed exclusive interview.&nbsp;

WION: How is the situation in Afghanistan? 
Khalid Noor: The situation in Afghanistan is not good. There is a humanitarian crisis going on, the war and the slaughtering of our people by the Taliban have increased all over Afghanistan. Thousands of people are internally displaced, they are being wounded every week and need intensive care. In certain provinces, our hospitals can't help them. When it comes to Mazar-e-sharif, we are doing okay right now. We have been under attack by the Taliban for the last two&nbsp;months and in the last three days,&nbsp;attacks have increased a lot and we have been able to keep them away. We hope to defend and have everything and will send forces around the frontline of Balkh, gates of the city and we will do everything because our people are prepared and committed to defending their rights, they are committed to resisting against terror regime against extremism.

WION: Do you&nbsp;think Mazar will fall into the hands of the Taliban? 
Khalid Noor: One thing I have to clarify is that in war we cannot predict the future and what is going to happen. But we will do everything to defend the city. Even if it means war will be on the streets of the city, from house to house, from street to street, even if it means the city will be destroyed — we will not abandon our people. We will not let the Taliban come and rule our people by force. We will stand and&nbsp;we will defend but time will tell, what will be the fate of the city.

WION: Do you think the Taliban has changed? Also, considering that you are the youngest member of the Afghan peace negotiating team, how did you find the right approach with them? 
Khalid Noor: I wish it was true, I have told this before and I tell you right now that the Taliban haven't changed a bit. They are still the same extremist group with a very small mind. They still have very close ties to international terrorist groups.&nbsp;They still do not believe in human and women's rights. So, from what I have experienced and seen, witnessed on the battlefield, they haven't changed at all. About the negotiation, if they were serious, we were negotiating with them since September last year. Unfortunately, they are only wasting time and trying to buy time for themselves. They haven't engaged in any serious negotiation. Even last month when our leaders went to Doha, we emphasised that let's talk about a political settlement and&nbsp;let us not waste our time. Let's go directly to that, let us talk about a ceasefire and then everything will follow up. They hadn't shown any interest and all they wanted was their prisoners released. I can only say they are the same extremist group, and if they take power again, I can assure you Afghanistan will become a safe haven for international terrorist groups once more.&nbsp;

WION:&nbsp;What is Pakistan's role when it comes Afghan peace process?&nbsp; 
Khalid Noor: Pakistan has a huge role in the peace process, in convincing the Taliban. We hope that they realise it is time for a good neighbour to do their job and&nbsp;to help its neighbour to come to a peace agreement with the Taliban. But so far I cannot say it is going to happen or not. From what we have heard, our intelligence says&nbsp;that the Taliban has not only kept ties with Al Qaeda, JeM, ETIM, they&nbsp;developed even closer ties than before and if the international community does not address the issues, these terrorists will reach their streets.

WION:&nbsp;Are you wearing a military uniform for any specific reason, are you part of the resistance? 
Khalid Noor: Out of respect for you, I came to the house for the interview. I was at the frontline checking with our guys as to what is happening. Yes, I will be taking part in defending the city, my people and their right. We will not abandon our people. No matter the consequences, no matter the outcome, we will resist as long as it takes.

WION: Your father Atta Noor met President Ghani earlier today in Mazar, were there any outcomes?&nbsp;How is he fighting the current situation? 
Khalid Noor: North is the base of the Jamiat-e Islami party, so we do have a huge role in Mazar and we have the majority of forces in Balkh province and the&nbsp;surrounding areas. In today's meeting with President Ghani, we discussed the current situation and recent developments of the security challenges and we have talked about the weaknesses and the strength of our frontlines, to strengthen even more, how to defend the city, as well as how to retake other districts. There is a sort of coalition forming up with other political parties to stand against the Taliban. We hope it will work. We have to see the future.

WION:&nbsp;Is there any name of this coalition? 
Khalid Noor: We haven't thought of any name but a resistance of the people, I can assure you.

Sidhant Sibal: How do you&nbsp;see India's role in this?&nbsp; 
Khalid Noor: Indian consulate was open until two&nbsp;days ago. Now because the situation is getting worse, more so minute by minute, they had to leave Mazar for their security, you know there is a lot of really with India. They have to be very careful. India does play a huge role&nbsp;in the peace process as well as resistance against the Taliban. We expect India to stand by the Afghan people and by its old allies, just the way it did with Ahmed Shah Massod, the national hero of Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Khalid Noor, the youngest member of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiating Team and son of Atta Muhammad Noor, has said that the leader in the Mazar-e-sharif will not "abandon the people".

Khalid Noor, the youngest member of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiating Team and son of Atta Muhammad Noor, has said that the leader in the Mazar-e-sharif will not "abandon the people". Atta Muhammad Noor, a prominent Afghan leader who holds sway in northern Afghanistan, especially Balkh province, is now taking the charge even as the Taliban is making territorial gains. Also read | US wants Afghanistan's neighbours not to recognise govt imposed by force as Taliban capture 9th provincial capital Speaking to WION's Siddhant Sibbal, Khalid Noor, speaking from Mazar-e-sharif said, "I will be taking part in defending the city. I will be taking part in defending my people and their right. We will not abandon our people." He has graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England and then from George Mason University in the US, majoring in conflict analysis and resolution. Khalid is seen as Afghanistan's next generation of leaders and is expected to carry forward his father's legacy. Also read | I do not regret my decision, says Biden as two more cities fall to Taliban in Afghanistan Asked about the Afghan President's visit to Mazar-e-sharif on Wednesday, he said, "We discussed the current situation and recent developments of the security challenges". Here is the detailed exclusive interview. WION: How is the situation in Afghanistan? Khalid Noor: The situation in Afghanistan is not good. There is a humanitarian crisis going on, the war and the slaughtering of our people by the Taliban have increased all over Afghanistan. Thousands of people are internally displaced, they are being wounded every week and need intensive care. In certain provinces, our hospitals can't help them. When it comes to Mazar-e-sharif, we are doing okay right now. We have been under attack by the Taliban for the last two months and in the last three days, attacks have increased a lot and we have been able to keep them away. We hope to defend and have everything and will send forces around the frontline of Balkh, gates of the city and we will do everything because our people are prepared and committed to defending their rights, they are committed to resisting against terror regime against extremism. WION: Do you think Mazar will fall into the hands of the Taliban? Khalid Noor: One thing I have to clarify is that in war we cannot predict the future and what is going to happen. But we will do everything to defend the city. Even if it means war will be on the streets of the city, from house to house, from street to street, even if it means the city will be destroyed — we will not abandon our people. We will not let the Taliban come and rule our people by force. We will stand and we will defend but time will tell, what will be the fate of the city. WION: Do you think the Taliban has changed? Also, considering that you are the youngest member of the Afghan peace negotiating team, how did you find the right approach with them? Khalid Noor: I wish it was true, I have told this before and I tell you right now that the Taliban haven't changed a bit. They are still the same extremist group with a very small mind. They still have very close ties to international terrorist groups. They still do not believe in human and women's rights. So, from what I have experienced and seen, witnessed on the battlefield, they haven't changed at all. About the negotiation, if they were serious, we were negotiating with them since September last year. Unfortunately, they are only wasting time and trying to buy time for themselves. They haven't engaged in any serious negotiation. Even last month when our leaders went to Doha, we emphasised that let's talk about a political settlement and let us not waste our time. Let's go directly to that, let us talk about a ceasefire and then everything will follow up. They hadn't shown any interest and all they wanted was their prisoners released. I can only say they are the same extremist group, and if they take power again, I can assure you Afghanistan will become a safe haven for international terrorist groups once more. WION: What is Pakistan's role when it comes Afghan peace process? Khalid Noor: Pakistan has a huge role in the peace process, in convincing the Taliban. We hope that they realise it is time for a good neighbour to do their job and to help its neighbour to come to a peace agreement with the Taliban. But so far I cannot say it is going to happen or not. From what we have heard, our intelligence says that the Taliban has not only kept ties with Al Qaeda, JeM, ETIM, they developed even closer ties than before and if the international community does not address the issues, these terrorists will reach their streets. WION: Are you wearing a military uniform for any specific reason, are you part of the resistance? Khalid Noor: Out of respect for you, I came to the house for the interview. I was at the frontline checking with our guys as to what is happening. Yes, I will be taking part in defending the city, my people and their right. We will not abandon our people. No matter the consequences, no matter the outcome, we will resist as long as it takes. WION: Your father Atta Noor met President Ghani earlier today in Mazar, were there any outcomes? How is he fighting the current situation? Khalid Noor: North is the base of the Jamiat-e Islami party, so we do have a huge role in Mazar and we have the majority of forces in Balkh province and the surrounding areas. In today's meeting with President Ghani, we discussed the current situation and recent developments of the security challenges and we have talked about the weaknesses and the strength of our frontlines, to strengthen even more, how to defend the city, as well as how to retake other districts. There is a sort of coalition forming up with other political parties to stand against the Taliban. We hope it will work. We have to see the future. WION: Is there any name of this coalition? Khalid Noor: We haven't thought of any name but a resistance of the people, I can assure you. Sidhant Sibal: How do you see India's role in this? Khalid Noor: Indian consulate was open until two days ago. Now because the situation is getting worse, more so minute by minute, they had to leave Mazar for their security, you know there is a lot of really with India. They have to be very careful. India does play a huge role in the peace process as well as resistance against the Taliban. We expect India to stand by the Afghan people and by its old allies, just the way it did with Ahmed Shah Massod, the national hero of Afghanistan.

Will not abandon our people, says Afghan's next generation leader Khalid Noor

After holding talks with the Taliban, China is now conducting anti-terror drills with Russia to counter possible security threats by the terror outfit. Is Beijing confused about its approach or is it playing both sides? Palki Sharma has this to say.

Gravitas: What is China's game plan in Afghanistan?

The European Union is no position to deal with a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis and must try to keep people from fleeing conflict in Afghanistan, Greece said on Wednesday, as unity between EU member states over deportations crumbled. 
 
Greece, which last week co-signed a letter with five other EU countries saying deportations of failed asylum-seekers should continue despite the fighting, said ending such returns "would send the wrong message". 
 
"It would lead to more people trying to leave and come to the European Union," Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi told Reuters. 
 
However, two other signatories to the letter, the Netherlands and Germany, abruptly reversed course on Wednesday, saying they would not, for now, deport Afghan citizens who are seeking asylum, given the rapidly escalating conflict there. 
 
Among other signatories, Austria said it was sticking to its position and Denmark and Belgium declined to comment. But German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said a state based on the rule of law had a responsibility to ensure any deportations did not put people in danger. 
 
"The security situation is changing so rapidly that we cannot meet this responsibility," he said. 
 
DIFFERENCES 
 
The disagreement underlined the differences over the issue within the EU, which Mitarachi said was unprepared for a repeat of the 2015 migrant crisis when more than a million people, most of them Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, arrived seeking refuge. 
 
"Absolutely not, the EU is not ready and does not have the capacity to handle another major migration crisis," he said. 
 
For now, the issue is largely theoretical as returns have not been possible due to the Afghan situation. Last week Germany cancelled a flight due to deport six Afghans convicted of criminal offences to Kabul because of security risks. 
 
Fears of a new migrant crisis have escalated as Taliban fighters have made sudden, strong gains in their campaign to defeat the Kabul government following the withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces after a 20-year presence. 
 
Mitarachi said the EU should offer more support to help Greece`s neighbour Turkey handle more arrivals from Afghanistan. 
 
A European Commission spokesperson said on Tuesday it was for member states to determine their approach to deportations. However, a senior EU official said it was "hard to imagine" forced returns would go ahead in current conditions.

The European Union is no position to deal with a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis and must try to keep people from fleeing conflict in Afghanistan, Greece said on Wednesday, as unity between EU member states over deportations crumbled.

The European Union is no position to deal with a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis and must try to keep people from fleeing conflict in Afghanistan, Greece said on Wednesday, as unity between EU member states over deportations crumbled. Greece, which last week co-signed a letter with five other EU countries saying deportations of failed asylum-seekers should continue despite the fighting, said ending such returns "would send the wrong message". "It would lead to more people trying to leave and come to the European Union," Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi told Reuters. However, two other signatories to the letter, the Netherlands and Germany, abruptly reversed course on Wednesday, saying they would not, for now, deport Afghan citizens who are seeking asylum, given the rapidly escalating conflict there. Among other signatories, Austria said it was sticking to its position and Denmark and Belgium declined to comment. But German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said a state based on the rule of law had a responsibility to ensure any deportations did not put people in danger. "The security situation is changing so rapidly that we cannot meet this responsibility," he said. DIFFERENCES The disagreement underlined the differences over the issue within the EU, which Mitarachi said was unprepared for a repeat of the 2015 migrant crisis when more than a million people, most of them Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis, arrived seeking refuge. "Absolutely not, the EU is not ready and does not have the capacity to handle another major migration crisis," he said. For now, the issue is largely theoretical as returns have not been possible due to the Afghan situation. Last week Germany cancelled a flight due to deport six Afghans convicted of criminal offences to Kabul because of security risks. Fears of a new migrant crisis have escalated as Taliban fighters have made sudden, strong gains in their campaign to defeat the Kabul government following the withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces after a 20-year presence. Mitarachi said the EU should offer more support to help Greece`s neighbour Turkey handle more arrivals from Afghanistan. A European Commission spokesperson said on Tuesday it was for member states to determine their approach to deportations. However, a senior EU official said it was "hard to imagine" forced returns would go ahead in current conditions.

European Union countries at odds on migrant returns as Afghan conflict grows

Taliban is making strategic gains around Kabul and is capturing the majority of the cities. Nine major cities are under Taliban's control as of now.

Taliban makes strategic gains around Kabul, captures 9 major cities

Since international troops began withdrawing from Afghanistan in May, the Taliban have carried out a sweeping military campaign and gained control of much of the country’s rural areas. But for months, the insurgents failed to capture major cities — until now.

Over the past six days, the insurgents have overrun nine provincial capitals across the country, most of them clustered in the north, in a major escalation of their military offensive and a devastating setback for the Afghan government.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-wants-afghanistans-neighbours-not-to-recognise-govt-imposed-by-force-as-taliban-capture-9th-provincial-capital-404659" hreflang="en">US wants Afghanistan's neighbours not to recognise govt imposed by force as Taliban capture 9th provincial capital</a>

The Taliban’s rapid victories have put enormous pressure on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/afghanistan">Afghan</a> political leaders and the country’s beleaguered security forces, which have been overwhelmed by the insurgents’ unrelenting advance. The collapse of cities particularly in northern Afghanistan — once the heart of resistance to the Taliban’s rise to power in 1996 — has stoked fears that the insurgents could encircle the country’s capital, Kabul, in a complete military takeover.

Now, the Afghan government must decide whether to reconstitute its forces around the territory it holds — including Kabul — or try to retake its fallen cities. Here’s what we know and what questions will need to be answered in the coming days.

What areas do the Taliban now control?

Since the Taliban began their military offensive in May, the insurgents have captured more than half of Afghanistan’s 400-odd districts, according to some assessments. In recent weeks, after sweeping through much of Afghanistan’s countryside, the insurgents started besieging multiple provincial capitals simultaneously for the first time in the 20-year war.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-wants-afghanistans-neighbours-not-to-recognise-govt-imposed-by-force-as-taliban-capture-9th-provincial-capital-404659" hreflang="en">US wants Afghanistan's neighbours not to recognise govt imposed by force as Taliban capture 9th provincial capital</a>

Then on Friday, those front lines broke: The Taliban captured Zaranj, a provincial capital near the border with Iran, after facing little resistance from Afghan security forces upon entering the city. A day later, they captured another capital, Sheberghan, the northern stronghold of warlord Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, whose militia forces were overrun.

On Sunday, Taliban forces seized three more northern capitals. They captured Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province, and Sar-e-Pul, the capital of the province with the same name. They also seized Kunduz, the largest city captured to date and a vital commercial hub that the group has long coveted as both a strategic and symbolic prize.

The Taliban continued their relentless drive Monday, overrunning Aybak, the capital of Samangan province that sits on the main highway that connects Kabul to Afghanistan’s northern provinces. Then on Tuesday, insurgents seized three more capitals: Farah city in the western province of the same name; Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of the northern Baghlan province; and Faizabad, the capital of remote and rugged Badakhshan province in the country’s far northeast.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-brings-back-50-nationals-from-mazar-e-sharif-amid-talibans-surge-404585" hreflang="en">India brings back 50 nationals from Mazar-e-Sharif amid Taliban's surge</a>

The simultaneous sieges on provincial hubs overwhelmed Afghan security forces and stretched military resources dangerously thin. Resupply lines to government forces are severed. The cities and districts still under the government’s control are even more cut off and isolated. And Afghan security forces are exhausted from the brutal offensive.

How is the Afghan government responding?

Amid all the defeat, the administration of President Ashraf Ghani refused to acknowledge the falling capitals. Instead, the Afghan Ministry of Defense continued to promote its official talking points that emphasized Taliban deaths and the strength of the Afghan security forces.

The country’s acting finance minister, Khalid Payenda, resigned and left the country as the security situation deteriorated. Although he said on Facebook that he was leaving because of family issues, his departure was a sign to many Afghans that their political leaders had all but accepted a complete Taliban takeover.

The Afghan government strategy to slow down the Taliban’s advance aligns with long-standing US&nbsp;recommendations that the Afghans consolidate their remaining forces around key roads, cities and border crossings, and abandon most of the districts already seized by the Taliban, according to American and UN&nbsp;diplomats.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/grave-concern-taliban-advance-towards-mazar-e-sharif-after-weekend-blitz-404348" hreflang="en">'Grave concern': Taliban advance towards Mazar-e-Sharif after weekend blitz</a>

But it is not clear how that plan addresses the capture of now nine provincial capitals around the country — or accounts for the exhaustion of the country’s air force and commandos.

For months, those elite forces have been the backbone of the country’s defence against the Taliban. As the insurgents besieged cities, they have shuttled from one vulnerable position to another to flush the Taliban out of urban centres, hold territory under government control and retake some districts from the Taliban.

But that strategy is only a stopgap measure. There are simply not enough troops to defend all 34 of the country’s provincial capitals and 400-odd districts, and after months of nonstop fighting, those forces have been battered.

By Tuesday evening, Afghan security forces had not carried out any earnest operations to retake the seized capitals. In Kunduz, where military leaders had vowed to begin an operation to retake the strategic hub, Taliban forces on Wednesday captured Kunduz’s airport, the last pocket of government control on the outskirts of the city.

In a bid to rally government troops and militia forces, Ghani flew to Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh province and the only major northern city still under government control. If the insurgents manage to capture the city, it would represent the near complete collapse of northern Afghanistan to the Taliban.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-afghanistan-civil-war-now-inevitable-404533/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Could the Taliban stage a complete military takeover?

The Taliban’s breakthrough victories in northern Afghanistan, in particular, have stoked fears that the insurgents could envelop the nation’s capital, Kabul — opening the possibility for a complete military takeover.

After the Taliban emerged in the 1990s, the southern and predominantly ethnic Pashtun insurgency faced fierce resistance from militia groups in the north known as the Northern Alliance. Even when the Taliban seized control of Kabul in 1996, the Northern Alliance deprived the group of a complete takeover for the course of their five-year rule.

But now with the capture of seven northern cities in just five days, experts warn that if the insurgents are able to conquer the north — squashing the country’s best hope for a grassroots resistance strong enough to take on the Taliban — the country could fall in their hands completely.

“The north is strategic for the Taliban, because they believe if they can capture these non-Pashtun areas,” said Ramish Salemi, a political analyst in Kabul, “then they can easily take control of the south and the capital, Kabul.”

Will the Taliban’s advance affect the US&nbsp;military withdrawal?

The US&nbsp;military presence in Afghanistan is set to end by the end of the month, and the recent string of Taliban military victories has not moved <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a> to reassess that plan, officials said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/dont-regret-my-decision-biden-on-american-forces-withdrawal-from-afghanistan-404545/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Still, the escalating violence is a predicament for Biden, who has toed the line between extracting the United States from the war while insisting that he is not abandoning Afghanistan to the Taliban.

The US&nbsp;withdrawal is already 95 per cent complete, officials say. But over the past three weeks, as the Taliban pushed their front lines deep into urban areas, the US&nbsp;military has carried out some airstrikes in Afghanistan to try to buy time for Afghan security forces to rally a defence around the major cities under siege.

Administration officials say the Pentagon will likely request authorisation from the president for additional airstrikes in the next months, should the key southern city of Kandahar or the nation’s capital, Kabul, appear on the verge of falling.

But on Sunday, as three northern cities fell to the insurgents, the US&nbsp;response was muted. It sent a clear message to Afghan leaders: In no uncertain terms, America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan is over, and the Afghan forces will have to retake the cities on their own or leave them to the Taliban for good.

Since international troops began withdrawing from Afghanistan in May, the Taliban have carried out a sweeping military campaign and gained control of much of the country’s rural areas.

Since international troops began withdrawing from Afghanistan in May, the Taliban have carried out a sweeping military campaign and gained control of much of the country’s rural areas. But for months, the insurgents failed to capture major cities — until now. Over the past six days, the insurgents have overrun nine provincial capitals across the country, most of them clustered in the north, in a major escalation of their military offensive and a devastating setback for the Afghan government. Also read | US wants Afghanistan's neighbours not to recognise govt imposed by force as Taliban capture 9th provincial capital The Taliban’s rapid victories have put enormous pressure on Afghan political leaders and the country’s beleaguered security forces, which have been overwhelmed by the insurgents’ unrelenting advance. The collapse of cities particularly in northern Afghanistan — once the heart of resistance to the Taliban’s rise to power in 1996 — has stoked fears that the insurgents could encircle the country’s capital, Kabul, in a complete military takeover. Now, the Afghan government must decide whether to reconstitute its forces around the territory it holds — including Kabul — or try to retake its fallen cities. Here’s what we know and what questions will need to be answered in the coming days. What areas do the Taliban now control? Since the Taliban began their military offensive in May, the insurgents have captured more than half of Afghanistan’s 400-odd districts, according to some assessments. In recent weeks, after sweeping through much of Afghanistan’s countryside, the insurgents started besieging multiple provincial capitals simultaneously for the first time in the 20-year war. Also read | US wants Afghanistan's neighbours not to recognise govt imposed by force as Taliban capture 9th provincial capital Then on Friday, those front lines broke: The Taliban captured Zaranj, a provincial capital near the border with Iran, after facing little resistance from Afghan security forces upon entering the city. A day later, they captured another capital, Sheberghan, the northern stronghold of warlord Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, whose militia forces were overrun. On Sunday, Taliban forces seized three more northern capitals. They captured Taloqan, the capital of Takhar province, and Sar-e-Pul, the capital of the province with the same name. They also seized Kunduz, the largest city captured to date and a vital commercial hub that the group has long coveted as both a strategic and symbolic prize. The Taliban continued their relentless drive Monday, overrunning Aybak, the capital of Samangan province that sits on the main highway that connects Kabul to Afghanistan’s northern provinces. Then on Tuesday, insurgents seized three more capitals: Farah city in the western province of the same name; Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of the northern Baghlan province; and Faizabad, the capital of remote and rugged Badakhshan province in the country’s far northeast. Also read | India brings back 50 nationals from Mazar-e-Sharif amid Taliban's surge The simultaneous sieges on provincial hubs overwhelmed Afghan security forces and stretched military resources dangerously thin. Resupply lines to government forces are severed. The cities and districts still under the government’s control are even more cut off and isolated. And Afghan security forces are exhausted from the brutal offensive. How is the Afghan government responding? Amid all the defeat, the administration of President Ashraf Ghani refused to acknowledge the falling capitals. Instead, the Afghan Ministry of Defense continued to promote its official talking points that emphasized Taliban deaths and the strength of the Afghan security forces. The country’s acting finance minister, Khalid Payenda, resigned and left the country as the security situation deteriorated. Although he said on Facebook that he was leaving because of family issues, his departure was a sign to many Afghans that their political leaders had all but accepted a complete Taliban takeover. The Afghan government strategy to slow down the Taliban’s advance aligns with long-standing US recommendations that the Afghans consolidate their remaining forces around key roads, cities and border crossings, and abandon most of the districts already seized by the Taliban, according to American and UN diplomats. Also read | 'Grave concern': Taliban advance towards Mazar-e-Sharif after weekend blitz But it is not clear how that plan addresses the capture of now nine provincial capitals around the country — or accounts for the exhaustion of the country’s air force and commandos. For months, those elite forces have been the backbone of the country’s defence against the Taliban. As the insurgents besieged cities, they have shuttled from one vulnerable position to another to flush the Taliban out of urban centres, hold territory under government control and retake some districts from the Taliban. But that strategy is only a stopgap measure. There are simply not enough troops to defend all 34 of the country’s provincial capitals and 400-odd districts, and after months of nonstop fighting, those forces have been battered. By Tuesday evening, Afghan security forces had not carried out any earnest operations to retake the seized capitals. In Kunduz, where military leaders had vowed to begin an operation to retake the strategic hub, Taliban forces on Wednesday captured Kunduz’s airport, the last pocket of government control on the outskirts of the city. In a bid to rally government troops and militia forces, Ghani flew to Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh province and the only major northern city still under government control. If the insurgents manage to capture the city, it would represent the near complete collapse of northern Afghanistan to the Taliban. Could the Taliban stage a complete military takeover? The Taliban’s breakthrough victories in northern Afghanistan, in particular, have stoked fears that the insurgents could envelop the nation’s capital, Kabul — opening the possibility for a complete military takeover. After the Taliban emerged in the 1990s, the southern and predominantly ethnic Pashtun insurgency faced fierce resistance from militia groups in the north known as the Northern Alliance. Even when the Taliban seized control of Kabul in 1996, the Northern Alliance deprived the group of a complete takeover for the course of their five-year rule. But now with the capture of seven northern cities in just five days, experts warn that if the insurgents are able to conquer the north — squashing the country’s best hope for a grassroots resistance strong enough to take on the Taliban — the country could fall in their hands completely. “The north is strategic for the Taliban, because they believe if they can capture these non-Pashtun areas,” said Ramish Salemi, a political analyst in Kabul, “then they can easily take control of the south and the capital, Kabul.” Will the Taliban’s advance affect the US military withdrawal? The US military presence in Afghanistan is set to end by the end of the month, and the recent string of Taliban military victories has not moved President Joe Biden to reassess that plan, officials said. Still, the escalating violence is a predicament for Biden, who has toed the line between extracting the United States from the war while insisting that he is not abandoning Afghanistan to the Taliban. The US withdrawal is already 95 per cent complete, officials say. But over the past three weeks, as the Taliban pushed their front lines deep into urban areas, the US military has carried out some airstrikes in Afghanistan to try to buy time for Afghan security forces to rally a defence around the major cities under siege. Administration officials say the Pentagon will likely request authorisation from the president for additional airstrikes in the next months, should the key southern city of Kandahar or the nation’s capital, Kabul, appear on the verge of falling. But on Sunday, as three northern cities fell to the insurgents, the US response was muted. It sent a clear message to Afghan leaders: In no uncertain terms, America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan is over, and the Afghan forces will have to retake the cities on their own or leave them to the Taliban for good.

Could the Taliban take over Afghanistan? Here’s what we know

Reports said hundreds of Afghan soldiers surrendered to Taliban in Kunduz as the militant group seized the ninth provincial capital in Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Faizabad became the latest city to fall to the Taliban as Afghan troops continue to be pushed back. US President Joe&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/i-do-not-regret-my-decision-says-biden-as-two-more-cities-fall-to-taliban-in-afghanistan-404538">Biden</a> had declared last month that all US troops will be out of Afghanistan by August 31, which is just days away.

"I do not regret my decision" the US president said on Tuesday as the militant group swept a number of provincial capitals&nbsp;in a blistering onslaught.&nbsp;

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-live-broadcast-afghan-children-killed-by-taliban-404480/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Farah city and &nbsp;Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan had fallen to the Taliban earlier as the militant group confirmed the reports. Six provincial capitals have fallen in the north. The Taliban had begun its offensive in mid-May as US troops began to pull out of the region.&nbsp;

The militant group had initially captured rural areas in the north and south including border crossing along Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan. In the past two weeks, the militant group has attacked provincial capitals as the Afghan government troops have been leaving the areas.

Heavy fighting is carrying on in Kandahar and Helmand between the Taliban and government troops even as US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Qatar to ensure a ceasefire.

The country has been&nbsp;witnessing a refugee crisis as civilians have rapidly left the area as the Taliban has advanced. According to &nbsp;UN's International Organization for Migration over 359,000 people have been displaced so far due to the fighting.

The Taliban had captured Kunduz last week as the militant group declared its forces were headed towards Mazar-e-Sharif as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-brings-back-50-nationals-from-mazar-e-sharif-amid-talibans-surge-404585">India</a> pulled out 50 nationals from the area.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Reports said hundreds of Afghan soldiers surrendered to Taliban in Kunduz as the militant group seized the ninth provincial capital in Afghanistan on Wednesday. Faizabad became the latest city to fall to the Taliban as Afghan troops continue to be pushed back.

Reports said hundreds of Afghan soldiers surrendered to Taliban in Kunduz as the militant group seized the ninth provincial capital in Afghanistan on Wednesday. Faizabad became the latest city to fall to the Taliban as Afghan troops continue to be pushed back. US President Joe Biden had declared last month that all US troops will be out of Afghanistan by August 31, which is just days away. "I do not regret my decision" the US president said on Tuesday as the militant group swept a number of provincial capitals in a blistering onslaught. Watch: Farah city and Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan had fallen to the Taliban earlier as the militant group confirmed the reports. Six provincial capitals have fallen in the north. The Taliban had begun its offensive in mid-May as US troops began to pull out of the region. The militant group had initially captured rural areas in the north and south including border crossing along Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan. In the past two weeks, the militant group has attacked provincial capitals as the Afghan government troops have been leaving the areas. Heavy fighting is carrying on in Kandahar and Helmand between the Taliban and government troops even as US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad arrived in Qatar to ensure a ceasefire. The country has been witnessing a refugee crisis as civilians have rapidly left the area as the Taliban has advanced. According to UN's International Organization for Migration over 359,000 people have been displaced so far due to the fighting. The Taliban had captured Kunduz last week as the militant group declared its forces were headed towards Mazar-e-Sharif as India pulled out 50 nationals from the area. (With inputs from Agencies)

Taliban capture another provincial capital, several Afghan soldiers surrender near Kunduz

The US wants Afghanistan's neighbours to refuse to recognise any Kabul government imposed by force, Pakistani newspaper DAWN reported.

The demand, issued at a US State Department briefing on Wednesday, came ahead of a meeting of the Troika Plus nations in Doha.

The group, which includes the United States, Russia, China, and Pakistan, aims to find a political solution to Afghanistan's decades-long war.&nbsp; 
 
The Taliban have taken control of Faizabad in northern Afghanistan, making it the Taliban's ninth provincial capital in less than a week. 
 
"Late last night, the security forces who had been fighting the Taliban for several days came under intense pressure. The Taliban have captured the city now. Both sides have also suffered heavy losses," said lawmaker Zabihullah Attiq.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-captures-another-provincial-capital-several-afghan-soldiers-surrender-near-kunduz-404619">Also read | Taliban captures another provincial capital, several Afghan soldiers surrender near Kunduz</a> 
 
During the press conference, US State Department spokesman Ned Price noted that two important meetings are taking place this week in Doha, bringing together leaders from the region and beyond, as well as multilateral organisations.&nbsp; 
 
The participants will press for a reduction in violence, a ceasefire and a "commitment by the part of these regional and broader governments and multilateral and international institutions not to recognise any government that is imposed by force," Price said, as per the report. 
 
The meetings in the Qatari capital come as the Taliban have stepped up their campaign to defeat the government as foreign forces withdraw. 
 
US Special envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is representing Washington in the talks in Doha. 
 
Pakistan has sent its special envoy Muhammad Sadiq and its ambassador to Kabul, Mansoor Khan. Kremlin`s envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and the newly appointed Chinese envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiao Yong are representing their countries. 
 
All these countries have major stakes in bringing peace to Afghanistan and are seeking a regional consensus on the Afghan conflict despite their differences. 
 
In the press briefing, Price said that Khalilzad had been sent to Doha to "advance a collective international response to what can only be termed as a rapidly deteriorating security situation". 
 
US Special envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is representing Washington in the talks in Doha. 
 
Pakistan has sent its special envoy Muhammad Sadiq and its ambassador to Kabul, Mansoor Khan. Kremlin`s envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and the newly appointed Chinese envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiao Yong are representing their countries. 
 
In the press briefing, Price said that Khalilzad had been sent to Doha to "advance a collective international response to what can only be termed as a rapidly deteriorating security situation". 
 
However, the US media on Tuesday reported that Khalilzad was there to warn the Taliban against pursuing a military victory on ground. 
 
He will "deliver a blunt message: A Taliban government that comes to power through force in Afghanistan will not be recognised," media reported. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

The US wants Afghanistan's neighbours to refuse to recognise any Kabul government imposed by force, Pakistani newspaper DAWN reported. The demand, issued at a US State Department briefing on Wednesday, came ahead of a meeting of the Troika Plus nations in Doha.

The US wants Afghanistan's neighbours to refuse to recognise any Kabul government imposed by force, Pakistani newspaper DAWN reported. The demand, issued at a US State Department briefing on Wednesday, came ahead of a meeting of the Troika Plus nations in Doha. The group, which includes the United States, Russia, China, and Pakistan, aims to find a political solution to Afghanistan's decades-long war. The Taliban have taken control of Faizabad in northern Afghanistan, making it the Taliban's ninth provincial capital in less than a week. "Late last night, the security forces who had been fighting the Taliban for several days came under intense pressure. The Taliban have captured the city now. Both sides have also suffered heavy losses," said lawmaker Zabihullah Attiq. Also read | Taliban captures another provincial capital, several Afghan soldiers surrender near Kunduz During the press conference, US State Department spokesman Ned Price noted that two important meetings are taking place this week in Doha, bringing together leaders from the region and beyond, as well as multilateral organisations. The participants will press for a reduction in violence, a ceasefire and a "commitment by the part of these regional and broader governments and multilateral and international institutions not to recognise any government that is imposed by force," Price said, as per the report. The meetings in the Qatari capital come as the Taliban have stepped up their campaign to defeat the government as foreign forces withdraw. US Special envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is representing Washington in the talks in Doha. Pakistan has sent its special envoy Muhammad Sadiq and its ambassador to Kabul, Mansoor Khan. Kremlin`s envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and the newly appointed Chinese envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiao Yong are representing their countries. All these countries have major stakes in bringing peace to Afghanistan and are seeking a regional consensus on the Afghan conflict despite their differences. In the press briefing, Price said that Khalilzad had been sent to Doha to "advance a collective international response to what can only be termed as a rapidly deteriorating security situation". US Special envoy for Afghanistan Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad is representing Washington in the talks in Doha. Pakistan has sent its special envoy Muhammad Sadiq and its ambassador to Kabul, Mansoor Khan. Kremlin`s envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov and the newly appointed Chinese envoy for Afghanistan Yue Xiao Yong are representing their countries. In the press briefing, Price said that Khalilzad had been sent to Doha to "advance a collective international response to what can only be termed as a rapidly deteriorating security situation". However, the US media on Tuesday reported that Khalilzad was there to warn the Taliban against pursuing a military victory on ground. He will "deliver a blunt message: A Taliban government that comes to power through force in Afghanistan will not be recognised," media reported. (With inputs from agencies)

US wants Afghanistan's neighbours not to recognise govt imposed by force as Taliban capture 9th provincial capital

According to news agency Reuters, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-fiji-google-co-founder-larry-page-lands-in-new-zealand-find-out-why-403013">Google</a> employees could face a salary cut if they decide to work from home permanently.

The move could hit long commuters hard. Facebook and Twitter reportedly have cut salaries of remote employees who have moved to less expensive areas.

The experiment is apparently taking place across the tech industry in Silicon Valley.

The Reuters report said Google employees could face a pay cut of upto 25 per cent for remote work if they leave&nbsp;the San Francisco hub for an equally expensive area.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world-business-watch-dozens-of-us-states-sue-google-alleging-antitrust-violations-396656/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The report quoted a Google spokesman who declared that the company's compensation package has always been determined by location while adding that pay will differ from city to city and state to state.

According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey in the US, remote work has been an overwhelming success for both employees and employers with less than one in five executives who say they want to return to the office as it was the pre-pandemic era and the rest grappling with how widely to extend remote work options.

However, the survey said by July, 75 per cent of executives anticipated that at least half of office employees will be working in the office.

Over 55 per cent of executives in the survey said they prefer to work from home at least three days a week once the pandemic recedes.&nbsp;

Interestingly, 87 per cent executives expected to make changes to their real estate strategy over the next one year with companies planning to consolidate office space in premier locations or deciding to open more satellite locations.

In a mixed result, some executives said they wanted to reduce office space but 55 per cent said they expected more space with results highlighting that companies are planning to reinvest the remote work dividend in new ways.

The survey also said hybrid workplaces are likely to become the norm even as employees and employers don’t agree on the optimal schedule for remote work.

(With inputs from Agencies) 
&nbsp;

According to news agency Reuters, Google employees could face a salary cut if they decide to work from home permanently. The move could hit long commuters hard. Facebook and Twitter reportedly have cut salaries of remote employees who have moved to less expensive areas.

According to news agency Reuters, Google employees could face a salary cut if they decide to work from home permanently. The move could hit long commuters hard. Facebook and Twitter reportedly have cut salaries of remote employees who have moved to less expensive areas. The experiment is apparently taking place across the tech industry in Silicon Valley. The Reuters report said Google employees could face a pay cut of upto 25 per cent for remote work if they leave the San Francisco hub for an equally expensive area. Watch: The report quoted a Google spokesman who declared that the company's compensation package has always been determined by location while adding that pay will differ from city to city and state to state. According to a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey in the US, remote work has been an overwhelming success for both employees and employers with less than one in five executives who say they want to return to the office as it was the pre-pandemic era and the rest grappling with how widely to extend remote work options. However, the survey said by July, 75 per cent of executives anticipated that at least half of office employees will be working in the office. Over 55 per cent of executives in the survey said they prefer to work from home at least three days a week once the pandemic recedes. Interestingly, 87 per cent executives expected to make changes to their real estate strategy over the next one year with companies planning to consolidate office space in premier locations or deciding to open more satellite locations. In a mixed result, some executives said they wanted to reduce office space but 55 per cent said they expected more space with results highlighting that companies are planning to reinvest the remote work dividend in new ways. The survey also said hybrid workplaces are likely to become the norm even as employees and employers don’t agree on the optimal schedule for remote work. (With inputs from Agencies)

Pandemic effect: Google employees who work from home may suffer salary cut

Amid the turmoil in Afghanistan, India has brought back 50 of its nationals from Mazar-e-Sharif. The special flight from Mazar reached Delhi early morning on Wednesday.

The development comes even as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/i-do-not-regret-my-decision-says-biden-as-two-more-cities-fall-to-taliban-in-afghanistan-404538">Taliban</a> have&nbsp;reached the gates of the city which is the capital of northern Balkh province. The province borders Central Asia and is key to Afghanistan's connectivity with the region.&nbsp;

The Indian consulate in Mazar on Tuesday made an announcement that a special flight will be taking off from the city and will bring back Indian nationals.&nbsp;

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/india-asks-citizens-to-leave-mazar-e-sharif-as-taliban-avances-its-moves-404463/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

India has around 1,500 nationals in the country involved in various development works.&nbsp;In a security advisory, the Indian mission in Kabul has asked "all Indian nationals...to made immediate travel arrangements to return to India before commercial air services are discontinued to their place of stay/visit in Afghanistan."&nbsp;

The development comes even as India is evacuating its diplomats from its Mazar consulate amid an increased spectre of violence as the Taliban makes territorial gains.

India has already brought back its&nbsp;diplomats from Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. Meanwhile, India's embassy in Kabul remains fully functional.&nbsp;

The next 48 hours will see two&nbsp;key meetings on Afghanistan in Doha. The first is the Troika plus meet involving China, US, Russia plus Pakistan.

Thursday will see a regional conference on Afghanistan in the city to which India has been invited.&nbsp;The invite was extended during the visit of the Qatari special envoy for counter-terrorism and mediation in conflict resolution Mutlaq Al Qahtani to Delhi last week.

During his India visit, he met India's external affairs minister Dr&nbsp;S Jaishankar, foreign secretary Harsh Shringla, joint secretary PAI JP Singh, and secretary (CPV and OIA) Sanjay Bhattacharya.

New Delhi has been leading diplomatic engagement and last week as the president of the United Nations Security Council hosted a meet on Afghanistan.&nbsp;

At the meet,&nbsp;India's envoy to United Nations T S Tirumurti called on the Taliban to engage in "negotiations in good faith", "eschew the path of violence" and "severe ties with the Al Qaeda and other terrorist organisations".

The meet took place days after Afghan foreign minister Hanif Atmar called India's external affairs minister Dr&nbsp;S Jaishankar to hold a meet as the situation deteriorates in his country.&nbsp;

During the meet, Afghanistan exposed Pakistan's support to the ongoing Taliban offensive in the country and how the group continues to enjoy a "safe haven".

Afghan envoy to the United Nations Ghulam M. Isaczai while&nbsp;speaking at United Nations Security Council said, "Taliban continues to enjoy a safe haven in and supply and logistics line extended to their war machine from Pakistan."

Amid the turmoil in Afghanistan, India has brought back 50 of its nationals from Mazar-e-Sharif. The special flight from Mazar reached Delhi early morning on Wednesday.

Amid the turmoil in Afghanistan, India has brought back 50 of its nationals from Mazar-e-Sharif. The special flight from Mazar reached Delhi early morning on Wednesday. The development comes even as the Taliban have reached the gates of the city which is the capital of northern Balkh province. The province borders Central Asia and is key to Afghanistan's connectivity with the region. The Indian consulate in Mazar on Tuesday made an announcement that a special flight will be taking off from the city and will bring back Indian nationals. Watch: India has around 1,500 nationals in the country involved in various development works. In a security advisory, the Indian mission in Kabul has asked "all Indian nationals...to made immediate travel arrangements to return to India before commercial air services are discontinued to their place of stay/visit in Afghanistan." The development comes even as India is evacuating its diplomats from its Mazar consulate amid an increased spectre of violence as the Taliban makes territorial gains. India has already brought back its diplomats from Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. Meanwhile, India's embassy in Kabul remains fully functional. The next 48 hours will see two key meetings on Afghanistan in Doha. The first is the Troika plus meet involving China, US, Russia plus Pakistan. Thursday will see a regional conference on Afghanistan in the city to which India has been invited. The invite was extended during the visit of the Qatari special envoy for counter-terrorism and mediation in conflict resolution Mutlaq Al Qahtani to Delhi last week. During his India visit, he met India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar, foreign secretary Harsh Shringla, joint secretary PAI JP Singh, and secretary (CPV and OIA) Sanjay Bhattacharya. New Delhi has been leading diplomatic engagement and last week as the president of the United Nations Security Council hosted a meet on Afghanistan. At the meet, India's envoy to United Nations T S Tirumurti called on the Taliban to engage in "negotiations in good faith", "eschew the path of violence" and "severe ties with the Al Qaeda and other terrorist organisations". The meet took place days after Afghan foreign minister Hanif Atmar called India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar to hold a meet as the situation deteriorates in his country. During the meet, Afghanistan exposed Pakistan's support to the ongoing Taliban offensive in the country and how the group continues to enjoy a "safe haven". Afghan envoy to the United Nations Ghulam M. Isaczai while speaking at United Nations Security Council said, "Taliban continues to enjoy a safe haven in and supply and logistics line extended to their war machine from Pakistan."

India brings back 50 nationals from Mazar-e-Sharif amid Taliban's surge

US State Department said the situation in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-seize-provincial-capitals-in-afghanistan-as-kunduz-falls-404107">Afghanistan</a> was "grave" and was rapidly deteriorating as the Taliban continued its sweep through the country.

"The increased tempo of Taliban military engagement, resulting in civilian causalities in armed conflict between the sides, and alleged human rights atrocities are of grave concern," US State Department said.

The Taliban has seized the sixth<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-seize-two-more-afghan-provincial-capitals-in-northern-blitz-404055"> provincial capital</a>. The group said its forces have been&nbsp;moving in on Mazar-e-Sharif.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-talibans-72-hour-blitzkrieg-in-afghanistan-404335/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The militant group has been on the offensive since mid-May and have escalated its fighting capabilities as President Biden announced last month that the last of the US troops will be out of Afghanistan by August 31.

"Ambassador Khalilzad will be in Doha to help formulate a joint international response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan," the US State Department said amid heavy fighting on the ground between Taliban and Afghan government forces.

The US has provided air support to the Afghan forces but it is unclear whether it will continue its bombing campaign beyond the end of this month.

"It's their country to defend. This is their struggle," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

Meanwhile, the Taliban seized its sixth provincial capital after seizing districts in the rural areas in the north and south including key border crossing close to Tajikistan, Pakistan and Iran.

Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan have fallen to the Taliban with heavy fighting still continuing in Herat. The government forces have been pushed back in several areas as the Taliban has consolidated its gains engaging in street by street fighting in many cities.

Afghanistan's second-largest city Kunduz had fallen on Sunday as the Taliban continued its weekend blitz although the airport and army barracks were still being held by the Afghan forces.

The militant group is also engaged in heavy fighting in Kandahar and Lashkar Gah with the conflict going on for the past several weeks.

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp;

US State Department said the situation in Afghanistan was "grave" and was rapidly deteriorating as the Taliban continued its sweep through the country. "The increased tempo of Taliban military engagement, resulting in civilian causalities in armed conflict between the sides, and alleged human rights atrocities are of grave concern," US State Department said.

US State Department said the situation in Afghanistan was "grave" and was rapidly deteriorating as the Taliban continued its sweep through the country. "The increased tempo of Taliban military engagement, resulting in civilian causalities in armed conflict between the sides, and alleged human rights atrocities are of grave concern," US State Department said. The Taliban has seized the sixth provincial capital. The group said its forces have been moving in on Mazar-e-Sharif. Watch: The militant group has been on the offensive since mid-May and have escalated its fighting capabilities as President Biden announced last month that the last of the US troops will be out of Afghanistan by August 31. "Ambassador Khalilzad will be in Doha to help formulate a joint international response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan," the US State Department said amid heavy fighting on the ground between Taliban and Afghan government forces. The US has provided air support to the Afghan forces but it is unclear whether it will continue its bombing campaign beyond the end of this month. "It's their country to defend. This is their struggle," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said. Meanwhile, the Taliban seized its sixth provincial capital after seizing districts in the rural areas in the north and south including key border crossing close to Tajikistan, Pakistan and Iran. Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul and Taloqan have fallen to the Taliban with heavy fighting still continuing in Herat. The government forces have been pushed back in several areas as the Taliban has consolidated its gains engaging in street by street fighting in many cities. Afghanistan's second-largest city Kunduz had fallen on Sunday as the Taliban continued its weekend blitz although the airport and army barracks were still being held by the Afghan forces. The militant group is also engaged in heavy fighting in Kandahar and Lashkar Gah with the conflict going on for the past several weeks. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Grave concern': Taliban advance towards Mazar-e-Sharif after weekend blitz

Taliban continues&nbsp;its surge across <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dear-world-leaders-dont-leave-afghanistan-in-chaos-cricketer-rashid-khan-404512">Afghanistan</a> with the capture of two more provincial cities with a total of eight provinces seized in the last couple of days.

Amid the Taliban advance, US President Biden said he did&nbsp;regret his decision&nbsp;to pull US troops out of the region as the militants took Farah city and Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan.

"I do not regret my decision," the US President said.

President Biden had announced last month that all US troops will be out of Afghanistan by August 31 which is now just weeks away even as the Taliban continues its sweep through the country.

Watch:

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The militant group had said earlier that its men were now headed towards the country's second-biggest city <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/grave-concern-taliban-advance-towards-mazar-i-sharif-after-weekend-blitz-404348">Mazar-i-Sharif</a>. The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-to-evacuate-diplomats-and-citizens-from-mazar-e-sharif-consulate-in-afghanistan-404430">Indian</a> government sent a special flight to Maza-i-Sharif on Tuesday to evacuate diplomats and Indian nations. &nbsp;

At least &nbsp;1500 Indian nationals are currently involved in various development projects in Afghanistan. Reports say Taliban fighters are closing in on Aibak, a provincial capital between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul.

"Afghan leaders have to come together, they have got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation," US President Biden said.

The US president added that&nbsp;the country had spent over $1 trillion since September 2001 and lost thousands of troops during its fight against the Taliban and to restore the country.

Taliban had begun its offensive in mid-May and have annexed several strategic border crossings along the Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan border as US troops pull out of the region.

Although the US has been carrying out airstrikes along with Afghan pilots but it is unclear whether it would continue beyond August 31.

Meanwhile, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said the Taliban's recent offensive which involved "deeply disturbing reports" of executions could amount to war crimes, adding, "People rightly fear that a seizure of power by the Taliban will erase the human rights gains of the past two decades.”

(With inputs from Agencies)

Taliban continues its surge across Afghanistan with the capture of two more provincial cities with a total of eight provinces seized in the last couple of days. Amid the Taliban advance, US President Biden said he did regret his decision to pull US troops out of the region as the militants took Farah city and Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan.

Taliban continues its surge across Afghanistan with the capture of two more provincial cities with a total of eight provinces seized in the last couple of days. Amid the Taliban advance, US President Biden said he did regret his decision to pull US troops out of the region as the militants took Farah city and Pul-e-Khumri in Baghlan. "I do not regret my decision," the US President said. President Biden had announced last month that all US troops will be out of Afghanistan by August 31 which is now just weeks away even as the Taliban continues its sweep through the country. Watch: The militant group had said earlier that its men were now headed towards the country's second-biggest city Mazar-i-Sharif. The Indian government sent a special flight to Maza-i-Sharif on Tuesday to evacuate diplomats and Indian nations. At least 1500 Indian nationals are currently involved in various development projects in Afghanistan. Reports say Taliban fighters are closing in on Aibak, a provincial capital between Mazar-i-Sharif and Kabul. "Afghan leaders have to come together, they have got to fight for themselves, fight for their nation," US President Biden said. The US president added that the country had spent over $1 trillion since September 2001 and lost thousands of troops during its fight against the Taliban and to restore the country. Taliban had begun its offensive in mid-May and have annexed several strategic border crossings along the Pakistan, Iran and Tajikistan border as US troops pull out of the region. Although the US has been carrying out airstrikes along with Afghan pilots but it is unclear whether it would continue beyond August 31. Meanwhile, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said the Taliban's recent offensive which involved "deeply disturbing reports" of executions could amount to war crimes, adding, "People rightly fear that a seizure of power by the Taliban will erase the human rights gains of the past two decades.” (With inputs from Agencies)

I do not regret my decision, says Biden as two more cities fall to Taliban in Afghanistan

Taliban continued its offensive in Afghanistan after its weekend blitz led to the fall of key provincial cities with the US describing the situation as "grave".

Meanwhile, Canada reopened its border with the United States for the first time in 16 months after closing it last year as the pandemic began. However, only fully vaccinated US citizens are allowed inside Canada as it contemplates opening the country to foreign travellers next month.

Tension in the Korean Peninsula has mounted once again after Kim Jong Un's regime threatened the US and South Korea over military drills which are due to take place next week.

Click on the headline to know more, also check our latest video

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/grave-concern-taliban-moves-towards-mazar-i-sharif-after-weekend-blitz-404348">'Grave concern': Taliban moves towards Mazar-i-Sharif after weekend blitz</a>

<img alt="Taliban" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9f8e6392-98c3-4188-819b-b7c8a13b35b3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/T1_0.jpg" />

Taliban said its forces are closing in on Mazar-i-Sharif after a weekend blitz in which key provincial capitals fell to the militant groups.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/canada-reopens-border-for-fully-vaccinated-americans-404358">Canada reopens border for fully vaccinated Americans</a>

<img alt="US-Canada border" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b8784d2b-76b0-4ada-afc6-399f5654514e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/KK1.jpg" />

As Americans enter Canada the coronavirus situation in the US has deteriorated with the country recording an average 100,000 daily coronavirus cases.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/self-destructive-action-north-korea-warns-us-south-korea-over-military-drills-404364">'Self-destructive action': North Korea warns US, South Korea over military drills</a>

<img alt="North Korea" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="008c4992-8c1a-4f16-b4d4-0e62f27db6fc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/TT1_0.jpg" />

The US said the military drills were part of a mutual agreement even as North Korea asserted it will boost "strong pre-emptive strike capability" to address the external threats.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-novak-djokovic-withdraws-from-western-southern-open-404346">Tennis: Novak Djokovic withdraws from Western &amp; Southern Open</a>

<img alt="Novak Djokovic" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="25d3f8c7-ab5c-4f6a-9da9-4c5ae04cf7d1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/DJ.jpg" />

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-8-yr-old-hindu-boy-charged-with-blasphemy-in-pak-404329">Watch:&nbsp;8-yr-old Hindu boy charged with blasphemy in Pak</a>

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Taliban continued its offensive in Afghanistan after its weekend blitz led to the fall of key provincial cities with the US describing the situation as "grave". Meanwhile, Canada reopened its border with the United States for the first time in 16 months after closing it last year as the pandemic began.

Taliban continued its offensive in Afghanistan after its weekend blitz led to the fall of key provincial cities with the US describing the situation as "grave". Meanwhile, Canada reopened its border with the United States for the first time in 16 months after closing it last year as the pandemic began. However, only fully vaccinated US citizens are allowed inside Canada as it contemplates opening the country to foreign travellers next month. Tension in the Korean Peninsula has mounted once again after Kim Jong Un's regime threatened the US and South Korea over military drills which are due to take place next week. Click on the headline to know more, also check our latest video 'Grave concern': Taliban moves towards Mazar-i-Sharif after weekend blitz Taliban said its forces are closing in on Mazar-i-Sharif after a weekend blitz in which key provincial capitals fell to the militant groups. Canada reopens border for fully vaccinated Americans As Americans enter Canada the coronavirus situation in the US has deteriorated with the country recording an average 100,000 daily coronavirus cases. 'Self-destructive action': North Korea warns US, South Korea over military drills The US said the military drills were part of a mutual agreement even as North Korea asserted it will boost "strong pre-emptive strike capability" to address the external threats. Tennis: Novak Djokovic withdraws from Western & Southern Open Watch: 8-yr-old Hindu boy charged with blasphemy in Pak

Morning news brief: Taliban eye Mazar-i-Sharif, North Korea warns US, South Korea & more

Amid the recent intensification of conflict with the Afghan Government, the Taliban continues to violate human rights unabatedly by killing civilians, destroying mosques, and assaulting women. Innocent Afghan children killed by Taliban. At least 27 children have been killed by Taliban in the last 72 hours.

WION Live Broadcast: Afghan children killed by Taliban

The Indian embassy in Afghanistan advised all Indians to return from the country amid the ongoing fighting between Afghan security forces and the Taliban. India has now closed all its consulates, leaving only the embassy in Kabul operational.

Afghanistan's Indian embassy advises all Indians to return amid ongoing crisis

India has been invited to a meeting of regional countries on Afghanistan in Doha later this week, which will see the participation of countries like Turkey and Indonesia as well.

India has been invited to a meeting of regional countries on Afghanistan in Doha later this week, which will see the participation of countries like Turkey and Indonesia as well. The invite was extended during the visit of Qatari Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism and Mediation in Conflict Resolution Mutlaq Al Qahtani. The Regional Conference on Afghanistan is expected to take place on August 12. The meeting comes even as Doha is hosting the Troika Plus meeting on Wednesday involving the US, Russia, and China, plus Pakistan. Qahtani was in India for a 2-day visit starting last Friday, during which he met with India's external affairs minister, Dr S Jaishankar, and foreign secretary Harsh Shringla. Qatar's Special Envoy also had a meeting with JP Singh Joint Secretary PAI and Secretary (CPV and OIA) Sanjay Bhattacharya in Delhi. In a tweet after the meeting, EAM said, "The rapid deterioration of the security situation is a serious matter" and "a peaceful and stable Afghanistan requires that the rights and interests of all sections of society are promoted and protected." Rapid deterioration of the security situation is a serious matter. A peaceful and stable Afghanistan requires that the rights and interests of all sections of society are promoted and protected. — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) August 7, 2021 × The special envoy during the various meetings was concerned about external players as much as internal. The visit and the meeting in Doha come amid a deteriorating situation in Afghanistan as the Taliban make territorial gains. The Taliban have now come close to the northern city of Mazar E Sharif, which is the capital of Balkh province. With this development, India has decided to evacuate its diplomats from its consulate. India has been leading diplomatic engagements as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates. Earlier this month, India hosted a meeting on Afghanistan at the United Nations Security Council under its presidency. The meeting came days after Afghan foreign minister Hanif Atmar requested India's external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar for such a meeting. At the meeting, India's envoy to the United Nations, T S Tirumurti, called on the Taliban to engage in "negotiations in good faith", "eschew the path of violence" and "severe ties with Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations". Tirumurti said that the Taliban should "fully commit itself towards reaching a political solution" and "violence and military threats cannot be used to strengthen the negotiating position of any side" for which a "tangible demonstration of this commitment is required." During the around one-and-half-hour-long session, Afghanistan exposed Pakistan's support for the ongoing Taliban offensive in the country and how the group continues to enjoy a "safe haven". The Afghan envoy to the United Nations, Ghulam M Isaczai, speaking at the United Nations Security Council, said, "Taliban continue to enjoy a safe haven and supply and logistics lines extended to their war machine from Pakistan."

India invited to Afghanistan meet in Doha this week

As the Taliban took their sixth Afghan provincial capital since last week amid fighting with the country's defence forces, a social media campaign against Pakistan and its "proxy war" in Afghanistan became a popular trend Monday.&nbsp;

As Afghans have gone to Twitter to demand sanctions against Pakistan for its damning role in supporting and enabling the Taliban, #SanctionPakistan is among the top trending hashtags.&nbsp;

#Sanction Pakistan was one of Twitter's top trending hashtags, with over 3 lakh tweets.

Habib Khan, a Kabul-based journalist, was one of the first to criticise Pakistan, and he has now encouraged his 97,000 followers to help the hashtag reach a million tweets.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SanctionPakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SanctionPakistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/8gMB4tpTVK">https://t.co/8gMB4tpTVK</a>
— Madina Shahab (@MaadinaShahab) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaadinaShahab/status/1425114460528824327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The main cause of Afghanistan's devastation is Pakistan.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SanctionPakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SanctionPakistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/m3mop4wA3z">pic.twitter.com/m3mop4wA3z</a>
— Sadam Zwak (@SadamZwak) <a href="https://twitter.com/SadamZwak/status/1424650454693294080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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This is the original friendship with terorist<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SanctionPakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SanctionPakistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/8EXLq91rKL">pic.twitter.com/8EXLq91rKL</a>
— nabi sulaiman (@nabisulaiman1) <a href="https://twitter.com/nabisulaiman1/status/1424767641923764231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Chris Alexander, a Canadian diplomat, also expressed his support for Afghanistan and urged on the UN to impose sanctions on Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s invasion of Afghanistan constitutes an armed attack &amp; act of aggression under Chapter VII of the UN Charter,” Chris Alexander tweeted.

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— Chris Alexander (@calxandr) <a href="https://twitter.com/calxandr/status/1424755660571435013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Not just online supporters, but Afghans also took to the streets in numerous cities throughout the world to protest Pakistan's backing of the Taliban.

Afghans in Sweden took to the streets to demand that the United Nations penalise Pakistan for its clear role in igniting a war in Afghanistan.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sweden?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sweden</a>: Afghans in Sweden protest against Pakistan. Protesters call on <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> to impose sanctions on Pakistan for its direct involvement in Afghanistan's war. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SanctionPakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SanctionPakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RecallKhalilzad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RecallKhalilzad</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TalibanWarCrimes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TalibanWarCrimes</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SanctionOnPakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SanctionOnPakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UNAMAnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNAMAnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/tpHnlJa5Ku">pic.twitter.com/tpHnlJa5Ku</a>
— RTA World (@rtaworld) <a href="https://twitter.com/rtaworld/status/1424644092462501890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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As the Taliban took their sixth Afghan provincial capital since last week amid fighting with the country's defence forces, a social media campaign against Pakistan and its "proxy war" in Afghanistan became a popular trend Monday.

As the Taliban took their sixth Afghan provincial capital since last week amid fighting with the country's defence forces, a social media campaign against Pakistan and its "proxy war" in Afghanistan became a popular trend Monday. As Afghans have gone to Twitter to demand sanctions against Pakistan for its damning role in supporting and enabling the Taliban, #SanctionPakistan is among the top trending hashtags. #Sanction Pakistan was one of Twitter's top trending hashtags, with over 3 lakh tweets. Habib Khan, a Kabul-based journalist, was one of the first to criticise Pakistan, and he has now encouraged his 97,000 followers to help the hashtag reach a million tweets. #SanctionPakistan https://t.co/8gMB4tpTVK — Madina Shahab (@MaadinaShahab) August 10, 2021 × The main cause of Afghanistan's devastation is Pakistan.#SanctionPakistan pic.twitter.com/m3mop4wA3z — Sadam Zwak (@SadamZwak) August 9, 2021 × This is the original friendship with terorist#SanctionPakistan pic.twitter.com/8EXLq91rKL — nabi sulaiman (@nabisulaiman1) August 9, 2021 × Chris Alexander, a Canadian diplomat, also expressed his support for Afghanistan and urged on the UN to impose sanctions on Pakistan. “Pakistan’s invasion of Afghanistan constitutes an armed attack & act of aggression under Chapter VII of the UN Charter,” Chris Alexander tweeted. pic.twitter.com/qmzhhnhS1j — Chris Alexander (@calxandr) August 9, 2021 × Not just online supporters, but Afghans also took to the streets in numerous cities throughout the world to protest Pakistan's backing of the Taliban. Afghans in Sweden took to the streets to demand that the United Nations penalise Pakistan for its clear role in igniting a war in Afghanistan. #Sweden: Afghans in Sweden protest against Pakistan. Protesters call on @UN to impose sanctions on Pakistan for its direct involvement in Afghanistan's war. #SanctionPakistan #RecallKhalilzad #TalibanWarCrimes #SanctionOnPakistan @UNAMAnews pic.twitter.com/tpHnlJa5Ku — RTA World (@rtaworld) August 9, 2021 ×

Why is #SanctionPakistan trending? Because thousands of Afghans want the world to punish Pakistan for backing Taliban

The Taliban have now overrun six provincial capitals in mere days. On Sunday the group claimed a huge symbolic victory when its fighters seized Kunduz.

Taliban capture sixth provincial capital in northern Afghanistan

The US has said that the situation in Afghanistan is not going in the right direction and added that Afghan security forces had the capability to fight.

US says situation in Afghanistan is concerning, makes remarks on Afghan forces' capability to fight

The US is having conversations with the Pakistani leadership about the need to shut down the safe havens for Taliban militants along the Afghan-Pakistan border that are providing a source of more insecurity and instability inside Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said, as Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke over the phone with Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

Austin, in a phone call with Gen Bajwa on Monday, discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, regional security issues and the bilateral defence ties, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/grave-concern-taliban-advance-towards-mazar-i-sharif-after-weekend-blitz-404348">'Grave concern': Taliban advance towards Mazar-i-Sharif after weekend blitz</a>

During the phone call, Austin expressed his interest in continuing to improve the US-Pakistan relationship and build upon their multiple shared interests in the region, Kirby said on Monday in a readout of the conversation.

"Secretary Austin and General Bajwa discussed the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, regional security and stability, and the bilateral defence relationship more broadly,"&nbsp;Kirby said.

Austin discussed the mutual goals of security and stability in the region, he said.

Responding to a question, Kirby said the US continues to have conversations with the Pakistani leadership about the safe havens that exist along that border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/opinion-why-us-strategy-in-afghanistan-failed-against-taliban-pakistan-nexus-403844">Opinion | Why US strategy in Afghanistan failed against Taliban-Pakistan nexus?</a>

"We are mindful that those safe havens are only providing a source of more insecurity and more instability inside Afghanistan. We are not bashful about having that discussion with Pakistani leaders,"&nbsp;he said.

"We are also mindful that Pakistan and the Pakistani people also fall victim to terrorist activities that emanate from that region. So, we all have a shared sense of the importance of closing down those safe havens and not allowing them to be used by the Taliban or other terrorist networks to sow discord,"&nbsp;Kirby said.

"And again, we're having that conversation with the Pakistanis all the time,"&nbsp;he added. Taliban's surge in Afghanistan has intensified as US and NATO troops wrap up their withdrawal from the war-torn country.

With Taliban attacks increasing, Afghan security forces and government troops have retaliated with airstrikes aided by the United States.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/international-community-should-look-into-failures-of-afghan-forces-pak-fm-qureshi-404375/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Afghanistan and the US have criticised Pakistan in the past for allowing Taliban fighters to cross into Pakistan where they are provided safe havens and also receive medical treatment.

While Kabul claims that Islamabad is sending thousands of militants to fight in the war-ravaged country and providing safe haven for the Taliban, Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan harbours the anti-Pakistani group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Pakistani Taliban, and also the secessionist Balochistan Liberation Army.

Pakistan has said that it has used its influence over the Taliban to press the insurgents into talks with the US and the Afghan government to find a political solution to the crisis.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan last month said that the US "really messed it up" in Afghanistan as he questioned the American motive for the 2001 invasion of the country in the first place and then their subsequent attempts of seeking a political solution with the Taliban from a position of weakness.&nbsp;

The US is having conversations with the Pakistani leadership about the need to shut down the safe havens for Taliban militants along the Afghan-Pakistan border that are providing a source of more insecurity and instability inside Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said, as Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke over the phone with Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.

The US is having conversations with the Pakistani leadership about the need to shut down the safe havens for Taliban militants along the Afghan-Pakistan border that are providing a source of more insecurity and instability inside Afghanistan, the Pentagon has said, as Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke over the phone with Pakistan Army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. Austin, in a phone call with Gen Bajwa on Monday, discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, regional security issues and the bilateral defence ties, Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said. Also read | 'Grave concern': Taliban advance towards Mazar-i-Sharif after weekend blitz During the phone call, Austin expressed his interest in continuing to improve the US-Pakistan relationship and build upon their multiple shared interests in the region, Kirby said on Monday in a readout of the conversation. "Secretary Austin and General Bajwa discussed the ongoing situation in Afghanistan, regional security and stability, and the bilateral defence relationship more broadly," Kirby said. Austin discussed the mutual goals of security and stability in the region, he said. Responding to a question, Kirby said the US continues to have conversations with the Pakistani leadership about the safe havens that exist along that border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Also read | Opinion | Why US strategy in Afghanistan failed against Taliban-Pakistan nexus? "We are mindful that those safe havens are only providing a source of more insecurity and more instability inside Afghanistan. We are not bashful about having that discussion with Pakistani leaders," he said. "We are also mindful that Pakistan and the Pakistani people also fall victim to terrorist activities that emanate from that region. So, we all have a shared sense of the importance of closing down those safe havens and not allowing them to be used by the Taliban or other terrorist networks to sow discord," Kirby said. "And again, we're having that conversation with the Pakistanis all the time," he added. Taliban's surge in Afghanistan has intensified as US and NATO troops wrap up their withdrawal from the war-torn country. With Taliban attacks increasing, Afghan security forces and government troops have retaliated with airstrikes aided by the United States. Afghanistan and the US have criticised Pakistan in the past for allowing Taliban fighters to cross into Pakistan where they are provided safe havens and also receive medical treatment. While Kabul claims that Islamabad is sending thousands of militants to fight in the war-ravaged country and providing safe haven for the Taliban, Pakistan alleges that Afghanistan harbours the anti-Pakistani group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Pakistani Taliban, and also the secessionist Balochistan Liberation Army. Pakistan has said that it has used its influence over the Taliban to press the insurgents into talks with the US and the Afghan government to find a political solution to the crisis. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan last month said that the US "really messed it up" in Afghanistan as he questioned the American motive for the 2001 invasion of the country in the first place and then their subsequent attempts of seeking a political solution with the Taliban from a position of weakness.

Pentagon: US talking to Pakistan about closing Taliban safe havens along Afghan border

Taliban is on a blitzkrieg in Afghanistan. 6 provinces have fallen in 72 hours. 90% of the border has been 'seized'. Key routes to Kabul are blocked. A woman has been killed for wearing 'tight clothes'. Palki Sharma gets you a report on the Taliban's onslaught.

Gravitas: Taliban's 72-hour blitzkrieg in Afghanistan

The terror group Taliban is rapidly closing in on the heart of Afghanistan, Kabul city. There has been intense fighting in areas that are a few kilometers from Kabul.

WION In Afghanistan: Afghan civilians fear Taliban takeover

According to sources, the Taliban have also taken government buildings in the northern provincial capital of Sar-e Pul, driving officials out of the main city to a nearby military base, Mohammad Noor Rahmani.

Taliban seize government buildings in Afghan cities Kunduz, Sar-e Pul

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