The Taliban outlawed dozens of seemingly innocuous activities and pastimes in Afghanistan during their 1996-2001 rule -- including kite flying, TV soap operas, pigeon racing, fancy haircuts, and even playing music.

These have made a comeback in the years since, but fears are growing they will be banned again if the hardline Islamists return to power.

The insurgents have made enormous military and territorial gains since US troops began their final withdrawal in May, and their leaders say they want Afghanistan to return to being an Islamic emirate ruled by religious elders.

AFP looks at some of the activities the Taliban banned, and the fears of those now taking part in them.

The musician 
Sayed Mohammad makes a living as a professional musician playing the japani, a traditional Central Asian stringed instrument he first picked up as a boy. 
 
He still remembers the evening two decades ago when the Taliban broke into a house where he and his friends were playing music and singing songs.

According to the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islam, only the human voice should produce music -- and only in praise of God.

"I was young, so I was beaten less than my friends," said Mohammad, now 40 and a resident of the former insurgent bastion of Kandahar.

"I was still unable to stand for three days," he added.

He was lucky, he said, describing how on another occasion the Taliban cut off the fingers of one of his friends for playing the japani.

When the insurgents were ousted, Mohammad celebrated by attending a concert.

"When the music played, I felt a tremor passing through my body out of sheer joy," he said.

"Joy that our country was free and that people were now free to start a new life."

Since then, many Afghans like Mohammad have become professional musicians and singers.

"There is no pleasure in life if we live in fear," the father of eight told AFP.

He is determined to pursue his passion -- even if the Taliban return to power.

"It's like an addiction. Even if they cut our fingers we will still play music."

The makeup artist 
In a small shop in the Afghan capital Kabul, beautician Farida transforms a shy young Afghan woman into a radiant bride-to-be. 
 
Oversized false eyelashes are delicately glued on, followed by the application of a rich carmine-red lipstick. Next comes eyeshadow, before beige and ochre blush is delicately brushed on.

Despite its bustling popularity, Farida's beauty parlour is one of hundreds across the country that face an uncertain future.

The Taliban severely restricted the movement and activities of women and girls during their rule, and banned beauty parlours from operating in public.

"If they come back, we'll never have the freedom we have now," said 27-year-old Farida, who asked not to be further identified.

"They don't want women working."

Farida's shop is busiest on Thursday and Friday -- the weekend in Afghanistan, when hundreds gather for huge wedding ceremonies.

Out of the sight of men, the women come to be pampered for a few hours.

Beauty comes at a price, however. At Farida's salon, one of Kabul's most popular, a full treatment package can cost up to $300.

"I think the Taliban will force us to leave when they come," Farida said, adding she would love to move to Canada given a chance.

The kite-maker 
In a bustling Kabul market shop, surrounded by hundreds of colourful kites of all sizes, Zelgai says he is determined not to give up the business his family has run for generations -- and he has flown close to the wind before.

The Taliban outlawed kite flying on the grounds it distracted young men from praying and other religious activities, but Zelgai and his family kept operating.

"Of course, we did it in secret," the 59-year-old told AFP at his shop in the capital's Shor bazaar. 
 
His colourful store has hundreds of fragile ready-made kites for sale, and he also takes orders for elaborate custom designs.

And business has soared in the years since the Taliban were ousted.

"This is freedom... we are able to showcase and sell our kites openly without any fear," Zelgai said.

The much-loved national pastime earned a reputation abroad after Afghan author Khaled Hosseini's 2003 bestselling novel "The Kite Runner" was turned into a film.

Today, when the wind is right, thousands of kites can be seen fluttering in Afghanistan's clear blue skies.

Some are engaged in fights, with the pilots trying to outwit each other with their flying skills and some using glass-encrusted twine to cut the strings of their opponents.

"People would suffer if it is banned. Thousands of families survive on this," Zelgai said.

The breakdancer 
The day Manizha Talash took up breakdancing she knew she would become a target for the Taliban.

Talash is the only female member of a group of mostly Hazara boys who practice breakdancing in Kabul -- usually in secret.

The 18-year-old has the support of her mother, who has several jobs to support the family after her husband went missing a few years ago.

But for Talash, who dreams of representing Afghanistan at the Olympics, the risks of continuing are multiple.

Not only is she a girl taking part in a forbidden activity, she is also a member of the Hazara community, considered heretical by some Muslim radicals.

"If the Taliban have not changed and they lock women at homes and trample their rights, then life would be meaningless for me and for millions of other women of Afghanistan," said Talash.

Despite the risks -- the troupe was forced to switch practice venues after receiving death threats -- she is determined to pursue her passion.

There have been women pioneers in many fields in Afghanistan, and Talash now sees herself as one of them.

"We had no women police officers before; now you see them everywhere," she said, dressed in a t-shirt, cap and black leggings -- an outfit that would be anathema to the Taliban.

"I took the risk of becoming a target. I have fear in my heart but I won't give up."

The shisha smoker 
On the bank of a river flowing through the eastern city of Jalalabad, Mohammad Saleem and his friends gather every evening to smoke shisha, an ancient pastime enjoying something of a renaissance across the world.

"Smoking shisha is very normal at the moment in Afghanistan," said Saleem, puffing the vapours of fruit-flavoured tobacco from a bubbling hookah.

But the Taliban say it is an intoxicant -- something prohibited by the Koran.

Shisha cafes have popped up across the country since the fall of the Taliban, serving hot saffron tea to customers occupied with their pipes.

Cafe owner Bakhtyar Ahmad believes the habit is a good way to keep youngsters off the streets -- or from indulging in worse vices, such as drugs.

"There is peace here. We serve shisha and we play music in the cafe," Ahmad said.

"If the Taliban come back with their old ideas then they will stop us."

Shisha smokers agree.&nbsp;

"It will not be possible to go for a picnic or smoke shisha by the side of a river like now," Saleem said.&nbsp;

The barber 
Business is brisk at Mohammad Ghaderi's salon in the western city of Herat, with young men lining up for a shave or fancy haircut that matches their favourite Bollywood or Hollywood actor.

"Afghanistan has entered a new world," said Ghaderi, a men's hairstylist for nearly 10 years.

"There are more hairdressers now, more young people taking to fashion... the government is not against it like the way the Taliban were."

While men in rural areas tend to stick to Islamic styles -- a shaved top lip, a beard longer than a man's fist -- city slickers are a parade of the latest fashion.

But Ghaderi and his customers fear their individualism will end if the Taliban return.

"We are afraid that if the Taliban enter the city and the bazaar, they might be the same as they were 20 years ago," he said.

"Again women will be in burqa and young men would not be free to do what they want," added Sanaullah Amin, a regular customer.

The Taliban outlawed dozens of seemingly innocuous activities and pastimes in Afghanistan during their 1996-2001 rule -- including kite flying, TV soap operas, pigeon racing, fancy haircuts, and even playing music.

The Taliban outlawed dozens of seemingly innocuous activities and pastimes in Afghanistan during their 1996-2001 rule -- including kite flying, TV soap operas, pigeon racing, fancy haircuts, and even playing music. These have made a comeback in the years since, but fears are growing they will be banned again if the hardline Islamists return to power. The insurgents have made enormous military and territorial gains since US troops began their final withdrawal in May, and their leaders say they want Afghanistan to return to being an Islamic emirate ruled by religious elders. AFP looks at some of the activities the Taliban banned, and the fears of those now taking part in them. The musician Sayed Mohammad makes a living as a professional musician playing the japani, a traditional Central Asian stringed instrument he first picked up as a boy. He still remembers the evening two decades ago when the Taliban broke into a house where he and his friends were playing music and singing songs. According to the Taliban's strict interpretation of Islam, only the human voice should produce music -- and only in praise of God. "I was young, so I was beaten less than my friends," said Mohammad, now 40 and a resident of the former insurgent bastion of Kandahar. "I was still unable to stand for three days," he added. He was lucky, he said, describing how on another occasion the Taliban cut off the fingers of one of his friends for playing the japani. When the insurgents were ousted, Mohammad celebrated by attending a concert. "When the music played, I felt a tremor passing through my body out of sheer joy," he said. "Joy that our country was free and that people were now free to start a new life." Since then, many Afghans like Mohammad have become professional musicians and singers. "There is no pleasure in life if we live in fear," the father of eight told AFP. He is determined to pursue his passion -- even if the Taliban return to power. "It's like an addiction. Even if they cut our fingers we will still play music." The makeup artist In a small shop in the Afghan capital Kabul, beautician Farida transforms a shy young Afghan woman into a radiant bride-to-be. Oversized false eyelashes are delicately glued on, followed by the application of a rich carmine-red lipstick. Next comes eyeshadow, before beige and ochre blush is delicately brushed on. Despite its bustling popularity, Farida's beauty parlour is one of hundreds across the country that face an uncertain future. The Taliban severely restricted the movement and activities of women and girls during their rule, and banned beauty parlours from operating in public. "If they come back, we'll never have the freedom we have now," said 27-year-old Farida, who asked not to be further identified. "They don't want women working." Farida's shop is busiest on Thursday and Friday -- the weekend in Afghanistan, when hundreds gather for huge wedding ceremonies. Out of the sight of men, the women come to be pampered for a few hours. Beauty comes at a price, however. At Farida's salon, one of Kabul's most popular, a full treatment package can cost up to $300. "I think the Taliban will force us to leave when they come," Farida said, adding she would love to move to Canada given a chance. The kite-maker In a bustling Kabul market shop, surrounded by hundreds of colourful kites of all sizes, Zelgai says he is determined not to give up the business his family has run for generations -- and he has flown close to the wind before. The Taliban outlawed kite flying on the grounds it distracted young men from praying and other religious activities, but Zelgai and his family kept operating. "Of course, we did it in secret," the 59-year-old told AFP at his shop in the capital's Shor bazaar. His colourful store has hundreds of fragile ready-made kites for sale, and he also takes orders for elaborate custom designs. And business has soared in the years since the Taliban were ousted. "This is freedom... we are able to showcase and sell our kites openly without any fear," Zelgai said. The much-loved national pastime earned a reputation abroad after Afghan author Khaled Hosseini's 2003 bestselling novel "The Kite Runner" was turned into a film. Today, when the wind is right, thousands of kites can be seen fluttering in Afghanistan's clear blue skies. Some are engaged in fights, with the pilots trying to outwit each other with their flying skills and some using glass-encrusted twine to cut the strings of their opponents. "People would suffer if it is banned. Thousands of families survive on this," Zelgai said. The breakdancer The day Manizha Talash took up breakdancing she knew she would become a target for the Taliban. Talash is the only female member of a group of mostly Hazara boys who practice breakdancing in Kabul -- usually in secret. The 18-year-old has the support of her mother, who has several jobs to support the family after her husband went missing a few years ago. But for Talash, who dreams of representing Afghanistan at the Olympics, the risks of continuing are multiple. Not only is she a girl taking part in a forbidden activity, she is also a member of the Hazara community, considered heretical by some Muslim radicals. "If the Taliban have not changed and they lock women at homes and trample their rights, then life would be meaningless for me and for millions of other women of Afghanistan," said Talash. Despite the risks -- the troupe was forced to switch practice venues after receiving death threats -- she is determined to pursue her passion. There have been women pioneers in many fields in Afghanistan, and Talash now sees herself as one of them. "We had no women police officers before; now you see them everywhere," she said, dressed in a t-shirt, cap and black leggings -- an outfit that would be anathema to the Taliban. "I took the risk of becoming a target. I have fear in my heart but I won't give up." The shisha smoker On the bank of a river flowing through the eastern city of Jalalabad, Mohammad Saleem and his friends gather every evening to smoke shisha, an ancient pastime enjoying something of a renaissance across the world. "Smoking shisha is very normal at the moment in Afghanistan," said Saleem, puffing the vapours of fruit-flavoured tobacco from a bubbling hookah. But the Taliban say it is an intoxicant -- something prohibited by the Koran. Shisha cafes have popped up across the country since the fall of the Taliban, serving hot saffron tea to customers occupied with their pipes. Cafe owner Bakhtyar Ahmad believes the habit is a good way to keep youngsters off the streets -- or from indulging in worse vices, such as drugs. "There is peace here. We serve shisha and we play music in the cafe," Ahmad said. "If the Taliban come back with their old ideas then they will stop us." Shisha smokers agree. "It will not be possible to go for a picnic or smoke shisha by the side of a river like now," Saleem said. The barber Business is brisk at Mohammad Ghaderi's salon in the western city of Herat, with young men lining up for a shave or fancy haircut that matches their favourite Bollywood or Hollywood actor. "Afghanistan has entered a new world," said Ghaderi, a men's hairstylist for nearly 10 years. "There are more hairdressers now, more young people taking to fashion... the government is not against it like the way the Taliban were." While men in rural areas tend to stick to Islamic styles -- a shaved top lip, a beard longer than a man's fist -- city slickers are a parade of the latest fashion. But Ghaderi and his customers fear their individualism will end if the Taliban return. "We are afraid that if the Taliban enter the city and the bazaar, they might be the same as they were 20 years ago," he said. "Again women will be in burqa and young men would not be free to do what they want," added Sanaullah Amin, a regular customer.

'Talibanned': From kite-running to breakdancing, Afghan pastimes again under threat

The Taliban's march through northern Afghanistan gained momentum overnight with the capture of several districts from fleeing Afghan forces, several hundred of whom fled across the border into Tajikistan, officials said Sunday.

More than 300 Afghan military personnel crossed from Afghanistan's Badakhshan province as Taliban fighters advanced toward the border, Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said in a statement.&nbsp;

The Afghan troops crossed over at about 6:30 pm local time Saturday “Guided by the principles of humanism and good neighbourliness,” the Tajik authorities allowed the retreating Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to cross into Tajikistan, said the statement.&nbsp;

Since mid-April, when US President Joe Biden announced the end to Afghanistan's “forever war,” the Taliban have made strides throughout the country. But their most significant gains have been in the northern half of the country, a traditional stronghold of the US-allied warlords who helped defeat them in 2001.

The Taliban now control roughly a third of all 421 districts and district centres in Afghanistan.

The gains in northeastern Badakhshan province in recent days have mostly come to the insurgent movement without a fight, said Mohib-ul Rahman, a provincial council member. He blamed Taliban successes on the poor morale of troops who are mostly outnumbered and without resupplies.

“Unfortunately, the majority of the districts were left to Taliban without any fight,” said Rahman. In the last three days, 10 districts fell to Taliban, eight without a fight, he said.

Hundreds of Afghan army, police and intelligence troops surrendered their military outposts and fled to the Badakhshan provincial capital of Faizabad, said Rahman.

Even as a security meeting was being held early Sunday to plot the strengthening of the perimeter around the capital, some senior provincial officials were leaving Faizabad for the capital Kabul, he said.

In late June the Afghan government resurrected militias with a reputation of brutal violence to support the beleaguered Afghan forces but Rahman said many of the militias in the Badakhshan districts put up only a half-hearted fight.

The areas under Taliban control in the north are increasingly strategic, running along Afghanistan's border with Central Asian states.

Last month the religious movement took control of Imam Sahib, a town in Kunduz province opposite Uzbekistan and gained control of a key trade route.

The inroads in Badakhshan are particularly significant as it is the home province of former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was killed by a suicide bomber in 2011. His son, Salahuddin Rabbani, is part of the current High Council for National Reconciliation.

The slain former president also led Afghanistan's Jamiat-e-Islami, which was the party of famed anti-Taliban fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud, killed by a suicide bomber two days before the 9/11 attacks in America.

The Interior Ministry issued a statement Saturday saying the defeats were temporary although it was not clear how they would regain control.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the fall of the districts and said most were without a fight. The Taliban in previous surrenders have shown the video of Afghan soldiers taking transportation money and returning to their homes.

The Taliban's march through northern Afghanistan gained momentum overnight with the capture of several districts from fleeing Afghan forces, several hundred of whom fled across the border into Tajikistan, officials said Sunday.

The Taliban's march through northern Afghanistan gained momentum overnight with the capture of several districts from fleeing Afghan forces, several hundred of whom fled across the border into Tajikistan, officials said Sunday. More than 300 Afghan military personnel crossed from Afghanistan's Badakhshan province as Taliban fighters advanced toward the border, Tajikistan's State Committee for National Security said in a statement. The Afghan troops crossed over at about 6:30 pm local time Saturday “Guided by the principles of humanism and good neighbourliness,” the Tajik authorities allowed the retreating Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to cross into Tajikistan, said the statement. Since mid-April, when US President Joe Biden announced the end to Afghanistan's “forever war,” the Taliban have made strides throughout the country. But their most significant gains have been in the northern half of the country, a traditional stronghold of the US-allied warlords who helped defeat them in 2001. The Taliban now control roughly a third of all 421 districts and district centres in Afghanistan. The gains in northeastern Badakhshan province in recent days have mostly come to the insurgent movement without a fight, said Mohib-ul Rahman, a provincial council member. He blamed Taliban successes on the poor morale of troops who are mostly outnumbered and without resupplies. “Unfortunately, the majority of the districts were left to Taliban without any fight,” said Rahman. In the last three days, 10 districts fell to Taliban, eight without a fight, he said. Hundreds of Afghan army, police and intelligence troops surrendered their military outposts and fled to the Badakhshan provincial capital of Faizabad, said Rahman. Even as a security meeting was being held early Sunday to plot the strengthening of the perimeter around the capital, some senior provincial officials were leaving Faizabad for the capital Kabul, he said. In late June the Afghan government resurrected militias with a reputation of brutal violence to support the beleaguered Afghan forces but Rahman said many of the militias in the Badakhshan districts put up only a half-hearted fight. The areas under Taliban control in the north are increasingly strategic, running along Afghanistan's border with Central Asian states. Last month the religious movement took control of Imam Sahib, a town in Kunduz province opposite Uzbekistan and gained control of a key trade route. The inroads in Badakhshan are particularly significant as it is the home province of former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, who was killed by a suicide bomber in 2011. His son, Salahuddin Rabbani, is part of the current High Council for National Reconciliation. The slain former president also led Afghanistan's Jamiat-e-Islami, which was the party of famed anti-Taliban fighter Ahmad Shah Massoud, killed by a suicide bomber two days before the 9/11 attacks in America. The Interior Ministry issued a statement Saturday saying the defeats were temporary although it was not clear how they would regain control. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the fall of the districts and said most were without a fight. The Taliban in previous surrenders have shown the video of Afghan soldiers taking transportation money and returning to their homes.

Taliban take districts in northeast Afghanistan from fleeing troops

As the US military is continuing with its drawdown from Afghanistan, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan">Pakistan</a> is undertaking a dangerous gamble in the war-torn country and has sought to cultivate radical jihadi groups in the region.

In an opinion piece, The Jerusalem Post (JP) said that Pakistan has been providing training, weapons, funding and intelligence to terrorists to make up for their inability to compete in a conventional war.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-the-country-that-influences-conflict-in-afghanistan-378073">Pakistan: The country that influences conflict in Afghanistan</a>

"Pakistan's ISI has been providing training, weapons, funding and intelligence for the past decades to a number of terrorist organizations including the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)," the report read.

Despite ample evidence on the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and the 2019 Pulwama attack, Pakistan refuses to prosecute terror groups for orchestrating the attacks and continues to be a safe haven for terrorists such as JeM founder Masood Azhar.

According to the JP, Pakistan has wrongly been viewed as an ally in resolving the conflict in Afghanistan and fighting the war on terror.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/lot-of-fear-in-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-on-troop-pullout-in-afghanistan-389538">'Lot of fear' in Pakistan, PM Imran Khan on troop pullout in Afghanistan</a>

"Despite repeatedly undermining US strategy - out of fear of antagonizing a country with nuclear weapons, coupled with the hope that Islamabad's ties to Islamist groups could be instrumental in negotiating a peace process in Afghanistan - the West has been reluctant to adopt a harsher stance against Pakistan's double game."

The opinion piece further argues that Pakistan's support of jihadi groups stems partly from cynical realism to expand its sphere of influence in Afghanistan and support the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir.

Although ISI supports the Taliban in Afghanistan it operates as an independent terrorist organisation.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-helped-the-taliban-played-on-both-sides-in-afghanistan-us-senator-377880">'Pakistan helped the Taliban, played on both sides in Afghanistan': US senator</a>

"Without US troops or a reliable peace deal, the continued violence will spill over into Pakistan and result in a mass influx of refugees. A Taliban victory would also embolden other Islamist groups present in Pakistan that wish to see an Islamic revolution take place," the JP report added.

Amid the recent surge in violence in Afghanistan, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) last month had said that some 5,000 TTP terrorists were posing a threat to its security from their "sanctuaries" in the neighbouring country.

"The assertions of the Afghan side are contrary to facts on the ground and various reports of the UN, which also corroborate the presence and activities of over 5000-strong TTP in Afghanistan," the Pakistan FO was quoted by Dawn.

As the US military is continuing with its drawdown from Afghanistan, Pakistan is undertaking a dangerous gamble in the war-torn country and has sought to cultivate radical jihadi groups in the region.

As the US military is continuing with its drawdown from Afghanistan, Pakistan is undertaking a dangerous gamble in the war-torn country and has sought to cultivate radical jihadi groups in the region. In an opinion piece, The Jerusalem Post (JP) said that Pakistan has been providing training, weapons, funding and intelligence to terrorists to make up for their inability to compete in a conventional war. Also read | Pakistan: The country that influences conflict in Afghanistan "Pakistan's ISI has been providing training, weapons, funding and intelligence for the past decades to a number of terrorist organizations including the Taliban, the Haqqani Network, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)," the report read. Despite ample evidence on the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and the 2019 Pulwama attack, Pakistan refuses to prosecute terror groups for orchestrating the attacks and continues to be a safe haven for terrorists such as JeM founder Masood Azhar. According to the JP, Pakistan has wrongly been viewed as an ally in resolving the conflict in Afghanistan and fighting the war on terror. Also read | 'Lot of fear' in Pakistan, PM Imran Khan on troop pullout in Afghanistan "Despite repeatedly undermining US strategy - out of fear of antagonizing a country with nuclear weapons, coupled with the hope that Islamabad's ties to Islamist groups could be instrumental in negotiating a peace process in Afghanistan - the West has been reluctant to adopt a harsher stance against Pakistan's double game." The opinion piece further argues that Pakistan's support of jihadi groups stems partly from cynical realism to expand its sphere of influence in Afghanistan and support the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir. Although ISI supports the Taliban in Afghanistan it operates as an independent terrorist organisation. Also read | 'Pakistan helped the Taliban, played on both sides in Afghanistan': US senator "Without US troops or a reliable peace deal, the continued violence will spill over into Pakistan and result in a mass influx of refugees. A Taliban victory would also embolden other Islamist groups present in Pakistan that wish to see an Islamic revolution take place," the JP report added. Amid the recent surge in violence in Afghanistan, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) last month had said that some 5,000 TTP terrorists were posing a threat to its security from their "sanctuaries" in the neighbouring country. "The assertions of the Afghan side are contrary to facts on the ground and various reports of the UN, which also corroborate the presence and activities of over 5000-strong TTP in Afghanistan," the Pakistan FO was quoted by Dawn.

Pakistan undertaking dangerous gamble in Afghanistan: Report

The Taliban have taken control of a key Kandahar district after fierce night time fighting, officials said on Sunday. Kandahar is a former bastion of the Taliban. The officials added that scores of families fled from the area. The fight between the Taliban and Afghan forces took place during the night.

The Taliban have continued their offensive since early May when US military began its final withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The fall of Panjwai district in the southern province of Kandahar comes just two days after US and NATO forces vacated their main Bagram Air Base near Kabul, from where they led operations for two decades against the Taliban and their Al-Qaeda allies. Panjwai is the fifth district in the Kandahar region to fall to Taliban.

The Taliban also have control of a border post with Tajikistan in northern Afghanistan.

Over the years, the Taliban and Afghan forces have regularly clashed in and around Panjwai, with the insurgents aiming to seize it given its proximity to Kandahar city, the provincial capital.

The leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, hails from Panjwai.

The province of Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who went on to rule Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic sharia law until being overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2001.

Panjwai district governor Hasti Mohammad said Afghan forces and the Taliban clashed during the night, resulting in government forces retreating from the area.

"The Taliban have captured the district police headquarters and governor's office building," he told AFP. 
Kandahar provincial council head Sayed Jan Khakriwal confirmed the fall of Panjwai, but accused government forces of "intentionally withdrawing".

'Taliban don't want peace'

Scores of families of Panjwai fled their homes after the Taliban captured the district, an AFP correspondent reported.

"The Taliban fired on our car as I was fleeing with my family. At least five bullets hit my car," Giran, a resident of Panjwai told AFP as he took refuge in Kandahar city.

"The Taliban are on top of the mountains and firing at any moving vehicles. The Taliban don't want peace." 
Assadullah, a commander of border police in the area, said it was only the police force that was fighting against the insurgents.

"The army and the commandos who have better military equipment are not fighting at all," he said. 
Panjwai is the fifth district in Kandahar province to fall to the insurgents in recent weeks.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban have taken control of a key Kandahar district after fierce night time fighting, officials said on Sunday. Kandahar is a former bastion of the Taliban.

The Taliban have taken control of a key Kandahar district after fierce night time fighting, officials said on Sunday. Kandahar is a former bastion of the Taliban. The officials added that scores of families fled from the area. The fight between the Taliban and Afghan forces took place during the night. The Taliban have continued their offensive since early May when US military began its final withdrawal from Afghanistan. The fall of Panjwai district in the southern province of Kandahar comes just two days after US and NATO forces vacated their main Bagram Air Base near Kabul, from where they led operations for two decades against the Taliban and their Al-Qaeda allies. Panjwai is the fifth district in the Kandahar region to fall to Taliban. The Taliban also have control of a border post with Tajikistan in northern Afghanistan. Over the years, the Taliban and Afghan forces have regularly clashed in and around Panjwai, with the insurgents aiming to seize it given its proximity to Kandahar city, the provincial capital. The leader of the Taliban, Hibatullah Akhundzada, hails from Panjwai. The province of Kandahar is the birthplace of the Taliban, who went on to rule Afghanistan with a harsh version of Islamic sharia law until being overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2001. Panjwai district governor Hasti Mohammad said Afghan forces and the Taliban clashed during the night, resulting in government forces retreating from the area. "The Taliban have captured the district police headquarters and governor's office building," he told AFP. Kandahar provincial council head Sayed Jan Khakriwal confirmed the fall of Panjwai, but accused government forces of "intentionally withdrawing". 'Taliban don't want peace' Scores of families of Panjwai fled their homes after the Taliban captured the district, an AFP correspondent reported. "The Taliban fired on our car as I was fleeing with my family. At least five bullets hit my car," Giran, a resident of Panjwai told AFP as he took refuge in Kandahar city. "The Taliban are on top of the mountains and firing at any moving vehicles. The Taliban don't want peace." Assadullah, a commander of border police in the area, said it was only the police force that was fighting against the insurgents. "The army and the commandos who have better military equipment are not fighting at all," he said. Panjwai is the fifth district in Kandahar province to fall to the insurgents in recent weeks. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban seize key Kandahar district

In about two-months, all US groups will be off the ground in Afghanistan as the Biden administration prepares to return after a two decade war. Fear looms over the citizens as the Taliban imposes regressive laws in captured areas.

Afghanistan: As US withdraws, Taliban gains ground

Marking an end to the longest war in US history, the American troops have left the main military base in Afghanistan. Locals living in the shadow of the base are bracing themselves for what comes next.

Afghanistan: Fears of the Taliban taking over Afghan

Officials said that hundreds of Taliban fighters were killed in fighting across several provinces of Afghanistan. This came amid announcement from the US that troop withdrawal would complete by the end of August.

The announcement came after US and NATO troops vacated their main Bagram Air Base. The airbase was from where the coalition forces led operations for two decades against Taliban and Al Quaeda.

In last 24 hours, more than 300 Taliban fighters were killed in fighting with government forces, said the Ministry of Defence on Saturday.

Scores were killed in airstrikes, including a pre-dawn assault on Saturday, in the southern province of Helmand, where the insurgents and government troops have regularly clashed.

There are fears that Afghan forces would find it hard to fight against the Taliban without the air support the US has been providing.

"In recent days, the Afghan air force has intensified its airstrikes against the Taliban hideouts and the insurgents have suffered casualties," Attaullah Afghan, a member of Helmand provincial council, told AFP.

The Taliban rejected the government's claims.

Both sides often exaggerate each other's casualties and their claims are difficult to independently verify.

But since May 1 when the US military began its final withdrawal of about 2,500 troops, the two warring sides have clashed fiercely across the rugged countryside as peace talks between them have faltered.

As a result, the Taliban have seized dozens of districts in blistering assaults targeting government forces.&nbsp;

The insurgents have encircled almost all major cities across the country, and on Saturday claimed seizing seven more districts in the northeastern province of Badakhshan.

Top US envoy to Kabul, Ross Wilson, lashed out at the insurgents.

"The Taliban is using violent propaganda and hate speech to intimidate, threaten &amp; attack Afghans on social media," Wilson said on Twitter on Saturday.

"Violence and terror cannot create peace."&nbsp;

The Pentagon pressed on with its withdrawal to end America's longest war.

On Friday, all US and NATO troops left Bagram Air Base, signalling that the military involvement for coalition forces was finally nearing its end.

(With inputs from agencies)

Officials said that hundreds of Taliban fighters were killed in fighting across several provinces of Afghanistan. This came amid announcement from the US that troop withdrawal would complete by the end of August.

Officials said that hundreds of Taliban fighters were killed in fighting across several provinces of Afghanistan. This came amid announcement from the US that troop withdrawal would complete by the end of August. The announcement came after US and NATO troops vacated their main Bagram Air Base. The airbase was from where the coalition forces led operations for two decades against Taliban and Al Quaeda. In last 24 hours, more than 300 Taliban fighters were killed in fighting with government forces, said the Ministry of Defence on Saturday. Scores were killed in airstrikes, including a pre-dawn assault on Saturday, in the southern province of Helmand, where the insurgents and government troops have regularly clashed. There are fears that Afghan forces would find it hard to fight against the Taliban without the air support the US has been providing. "In recent days, the Afghan air force has intensified its airstrikes against the Taliban hideouts and the insurgents have suffered casualties," Attaullah Afghan, a member of Helmand provincial council, told AFP. The Taliban rejected the government's claims. Both sides often exaggerate each other's casualties and their claims are difficult to independently verify. But since May 1 when the US military began its final withdrawal of about 2,500 troops, the two warring sides have clashed fiercely across the rugged countryside as peace talks between them have faltered. As a result, the Taliban have seized dozens of districts in blistering assaults targeting government forces. The insurgents have encircled almost all major cities across the country, and on Saturday claimed seizing seven more districts in the northeastern province of Badakhshan. Top US envoy to Kabul, Ross Wilson, lashed out at the insurgents. "The Taliban is using violent propaganda and hate speech to intimidate, threaten & attack Afghans on social media," Wilson said on Twitter on Saturday. "Violence and terror cannot create peace." The Pentagon pressed on with its withdrawal to end America's longest war. On Friday, all US and NATO troops left Bagram Air Base, signalling that the military involvement for coalition forces was finally nearing its end. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan: Fighting rages as US forces seek exit by end August

Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) of Afghanistan said the survival, security & unity of the country is in danger. As the deadline of the US drawdown is approaching, Abdullah said that the Taliban are taking very slow steps in the peace talks but have increased the war on the battlefield.

Afghanistan's survival, security & unity in danger warns Abdullah Abdullah

The Taliban Friday said they "welcome and support" the exit of all US and NATO forces from Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base, a sign of an imminent final withdrawal of foreign troops from the country.

"Their full withdrawal (from Afghanistan) will pave the way for Afghans to decide about their future between themselves," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/afghanistans-survival-security-unity-in-danger-warns-abdullah-abdullah-395265/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

American troops pulled out of their main military base in Afghanistan on Friday&nbsp;under an agreement with the Taliban allowing for the withdrawal of all US&nbsp;forces from the country after a two-decade war.

The US&nbsp;military has coordinated its air war and logistical support for its Afghan mission from the&nbsp;Bagram&nbsp;air base, about 60 km (40 miles) north of Kabul, and the withdrawal of the forces symbolises the end of the US&nbsp;military involvement in the country.

The base is being handed over to the Afghan government as its armed forces face a surging war with the Taliban and questions swirl about their prospects.

For decades Bagram Air Base, north of the Afghan capital, served as both the linchpin for foreign armies fighting insurgents and as a symbol of the brutalities unleashed by years of civil war.

Just 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Kabul, the base is vital to the security of the capital while also providing strategic cover to much of the country's rugged north.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The sprawling airfield was first built by the Americans for its Afghan ally during the Cold War in the 1950s as a bulwark against the Soviet Union in the north.&nbsp;

Since its construction, a rotating cast of characters has exchanged control of the base, during decades of conflict that have roiled Afghanistan.

It served as the staging ground for the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan following the Red Army's invasion in 1979, and Moscow vastly expanded it.

Following the Soviet withdrawal nearly a decade later, the base went from being controlled by the Moscow-backed government to being occupied by the shaky mujahideen administration during the civil war.&nbsp;

It was reported that at one point the Taliban controlled one end of the three-kilometre (two-mile) runway, and the opposition Northern Alliance the other.

Bagram ultimately fell into the Taliban's hands after the hardline jihadist group overran large swathes of the country in the mid-1990s.

Following the September 11 attacks and the US invasion of Afghanistan, the Americans took control of the base.

Washington's long war against the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies was largely maintained with airstrikes and resupply missions stemming from the airfield.&nbsp;

The past two decades have brought numerous US presidential visits, while the base was also home to a prison that stoked controversy over the treatment of Afghan detainees by foreign forces.

During its heyday, the mini-city was visited by hundreds of thousands of service members and contractors.

It boasted swimming pools, cinemas and spas,&nbsp;and even a boardwalk featuring fast-food outlets such as Burger King and Pizza Hut.

In recent months, Bagram has come under rocket barrages claimed by the jihadist Islamic State, sparking new fears that militants are already eyeing the base for future attacks.

Following months of consultations, US President Joe Biden in April announced he would end the country's longest war and bring home its remaining troops ahead of the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

To this day, the sides of the road from Kabul to Bagram remain littered with the rusting hulks of old Soviet tanks, a searing reminder of the more than four decades of conflict that has left much of Afghanistan in tatters.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Taliban Friday said they "welcome and support" the exit of all US and NATO forces from Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base, a sign of an imminent final withdrawal of foreign troops from the country.

The Taliban Friday said they "welcome and support" the exit of all US and NATO forces from Afghanistan's Bagram Air Base, a sign of an imminent final withdrawal of foreign troops from the country. "Their full withdrawal (from Afghanistan) will pave the way for Afghans to decide about their future between themselves," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. American troops pulled out of their main military base in Afghanistan on Friday under an agreement with the Taliban allowing for the withdrawal of all US forces from the country after a two-decade war. The US military has coordinated its air war and logistical support for its Afghan mission from the Bagram air base, about 60 km (40 miles) north of Kabul, and the withdrawal of the forces symbolises the end of the US military involvement in the country. The base is being handed over to the Afghan government as its armed forces face a surging war with the Taliban and questions swirl about their prospects. For decades Bagram Air Base, north of the Afghan capital, served as both the linchpin for foreign armies fighting insurgents and as a symbol of the brutalities unleashed by years of civil war. Just 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Kabul, the base is vital to the security of the capital while also providing strategic cover to much of the country's rugged north. The sprawling airfield was first built by the Americans for its Afghan ally during the Cold War in the 1950s as a bulwark against the Soviet Union in the north. Since its construction, a rotating cast of characters has exchanged control of the base, during decades of conflict that have roiled Afghanistan. It served as the staging ground for the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan following the Red Army's invasion in 1979, and Moscow vastly expanded it. Following the Soviet withdrawal nearly a decade later, the base went from being controlled by the Moscow-backed government to being occupied by the shaky mujahideen administration during the civil war. It was reported that at one point the Taliban controlled one end of the three-kilometre (two-mile) runway, and the opposition Northern Alliance the other. Bagram ultimately fell into the Taliban's hands after the hardline jihadist group overran large swathes of the country in the mid-1990s. Following the September 11 attacks and the US invasion of Afghanistan, the Americans took control of the base. Washington's long war against the Taliban and their Al Qaeda allies was largely maintained with airstrikes and resupply missions stemming from the airfield. The past two decades have brought numerous US presidential visits, while the base was also home to a prison that stoked controversy over the treatment of Afghan detainees by foreign forces. During its heyday, the mini-city was visited by hundreds of thousands of service members and contractors. It boasted swimming pools, cinemas and spas, and even a boardwalk featuring fast-food outlets such as Burger King and Pizza Hut. In recent months, Bagram has come under rocket barrages claimed by the jihadist Islamic State, sparking new fears that militants are already eyeing the base for future attacks. Following months of consultations, US President Joe Biden in April announced he would end the country's longest war and bring home its remaining troops ahead of the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. To this day, the sides of the road from Kabul to Bagram remain littered with the rusting hulks of old Soviet tanks, a searing reminder of the more than four decades of conflict that has left much of Afghanistan in tatters. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban 'welcome and support' exit of foreign forces from Bagram

Gun in hand, 55-year-old Dost Mohammad Salangi recites poetry as he leads a small group of men to a look-out post high in the rugged hills of Parwan province, north of the Afghan capital Kabul.

Heavily bearded and wearing a traditional circular pakol hat to keep off the sun, he has a warning for the Islamist militant Taliban movement, which has increased attacks on Afghan forces and claimed more territory as foreign troops withdraw.

"If they impose war on us, oppress us and encroach on women and people's property, even our seven-year-old children will be armed and will stand against them," he told Reuters.

Salangi is one of hundreds of former "mujahideen" fighters and civilians who have felt compelled to take up arms to help the army repel a growing Taliban insurgency.

The group's ascendancy on the ground comes as the last US-led international forces prepare to leave after two decades of fighting that ended with no clear victory for either side.

"We have to protect our country ... now there is no choice as the foreign forces abandon us," said Farid Mohammed, a young student who joined a local anti-Taliban leader from Parwan.

He was speaking as the German military concluded the withdrawal of the second largest contingent of foreign troops after the United States with around 150,000 soldiers deployed over the past two decades, many of them serving more than one tour in the country.

US&nbsp;President Joe Biden and NATO said in mid-April they would pull out the roughly 10,000 foreign troops still in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;by September&nbsp;11, the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York that prompted the mission.

The United Nations envoy for&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;said this week the Taliban had taken more than 50 of 370 districts and was positioned to control provincial capitals as the country looked increasingly unstable as foreign military support ended.

Armed mainly with old assault rifles, pistols and grenade launchers, men like Salangi and Mohammed have joined local shopkeepers and traders as part of a loosely-formed Public Uprising Force trying to reclaim some of those areas.

Ajmal Omar Shinwari, a spokesman for the Afghan defence and security forces, said Afghans keen to take up arms against the Taliban were being absorbed intro the structure of territorial army forces.

But some political analysts warn of the growing risk of a return to civil war as more groups took up arms.

Faced with rising violence, President Ashraf Ghani visited Washington in June to meet Biden, who pledged U.S. support to&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;but said Afghans must decide their own future.

Talks to try and find a political settlement in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;have stalled, although the head of the Afghan peace council has said they should not be abandoned despite the surge in Taliban attacks.

Gun in hand, 55-year-old Dost Mohammad Salangi recites poetry as he leads a small group of men to a look-out post high in the rugged hills of Parwan province, north of the Afghan capital Kabul.

Gun in hand, 55-year-old Dost Mohammad Salangi recites poetry as he leads a small group of men to a look-out post high in the rugged hills of Parwan province, north of the Afghan capital Kabul. Heavily bearded and wearing a traditional circular pakol hat to keep off the sun, he has a warning for the Islamist militant Taliban movement, which has increased attacks on Afghan forces and claimed more territory as foreign troops withdraw. "If they impose war on us, oppress us and encroach on women and people's property, even our seven-year-old children will be armed and will stand against them," he told Reuters. Salangi is one of hundreds of former "mujahideen" fighters and civilians who have felt compelled to take up arms to help the army repel a growing Taliban insurgency. The group's ascendancy on the ground comes as the last US-led international forces prepare to leave after two decades of fighting that ended with no clear victory for either side. "We have to protect our country ... now there is no choice as the foreign forces abandon us," said Farid Mohammed, a young student who joined a local anti-Taliban leader from Parwan. He was speaking as the German military concluded the withdrawal of the second largest contingent of foreign troops after the United States with around 150,000 soldiers deployed over the past two decades, many of them serving more than one tour in the country. US President Joe Biden and NATO said in mid-April they would pull out the roughly 10,000 foreign troops still in Afghanistan by September 11, the 20th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York that prompted the mission. The United Nations envoy for Afghanistan said this week the Taliban had taken more than 50 of 370 districts and was positioned to control provincial capitals as the country looked increasingly unstable as foreign military support ended. Armed mainly with old assault rifles, pistols and grenade launchers, men like Salangi and Mohammed have joined local shopkeepers and traders as part of a loosely-formed Public Uprising Force trying to reclaim some of those areas. Ajmal Omar Shinwari, a spokesman for the Afghan defence and security forces, said Afghans keen to take up arms against the Taliban were being absorbed intro the structure of territorial army forces. But some political analysts warn of the growing risk of a return to civil war as more groups took up arms. Faced with rising violence, President Ashraf Ghani visited Washington in June to meet Biden, who pledged U.S. support to Afghanistan but said Afghans must decide their own future. Talks to try and find a political settlement in Afghanistan have stalled, although the head of the Afghan peace council has said they should not be abandoned despite the surge in Taliban attacks.

Afghan civilians take up arms as US-led forces leave

The top US commander in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;Tuesday did not rule out conducting airstrikes against the Taliban if they pressed on with their campaign of capturing new territory across the violence-wracked country.

Fighting has surged across the rugged countryside since early May when the US military began its final withdrawal of troops, with the Taliban claiming to have recently captured more than 100 of the over 400 districts across&nbsp;Afghanistan.

"What I like to see is no airstrikes, but to get to no airstrikes, you stop all violence," General Scott Miller told reporters in Kabul on Tuesday, according to video footage obtained by AFP from US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

"The best way to stop those, and I have actually told the Taliban this, is stop the offensive operations and air strikes," he said, insisting that the US military still has the firepower to conduct airstrikes against the insurgents even as it continues the withdrawal.

The remaining US troops are expected to be out by the September 11 deadline announced by President Joe Biden to end America's longest war.

The Taliban's claims of capturing districts are often disputed by government officials and are difficult to independently verify.

But experts say one of the main reasons the Taliban has been able to capture scores of new districts in recent weeks is the lack of US air support to Afghan ground forces fighting across rural terrains.

Miller, who is soon to transition to another commander, acknowledged that any loss of territory has an impact on the overall security in the country.

"Because districts start representing key terrain as it relates to the security of the people, of the provincial capitals and certainly security of the capital," he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-year-of-hong-kong-security-law-crackdown-on-people-and-the-press-394849">Also Read |&nbsp;A year of Hong Kong security law: Crackdown on people and the press</a>

The Taliban recently captured a key border crossing with Tajikistan in the north along with other districts surrounding the city of Kunduz, effectively laying a siege to the city.

The insurgents have also encircled almost all major cities in the country, raising fears that they would also make a military push to capture Kabul after the US and NATO forces leave.

"A military takeover is not in the interest of anyone, certainly not for the people of&nbsp;Afghanistan," Miller said, adding that the overall security situation was "not good".

"That's something that's recognised by the Afghan security forces and they are making the appropriate adjustments as we move forward," he said.

Faced with the Taliban's blistering assault, the Afghan interior ministry said Tuesday it has created a 4,000 member "rapid reaction force" to be led by retired army generals who would fight the Taliban along with regular security forces.

The top US commander in Afghanistan Tuesday did not rule out conducting airstrikes against the Taliban if they pressed on with their campaign of capturing new territory across the violence-wracked country.

The top US commander in Afghanistan Tuesday did not rule out conducting airstrikes against the Taliban if they pressed on with their campaign of capturing new territory across the violence-wracked country. Fighting has surged across the rugged countryside since early May when the US military began its final withdrawal of troops, with the Taliban claiming to have recently captured more than 100 of the over 400 districts across Afghanistan. "What I like to see is no airstrikes, but to get to no airstrikes, you stop all violence," General Scott Miller told reporters in Kabul on Tuesday, according to video footage obtained by AFP from US-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "The best way to stop those, and I have actually told the Taliban this, is stop the offensive operations and air strikes," he said, insisting that the US military still has the firepower to conduct airstrikes against the insurgents even as it continues the withdrawal. The remaining US troops are expected to be out by the September 11 deadline announced by President Joe Biden to end America's longest war. The Taliban's claims of capturing districts are often disputed by government officials and are difficult to independently verify. But experts say one of the main reasons the Taliban has been able to capture scores of new districts in recent weeks is the lack of US air support to Afghan ground forces fighting across rural terrains. Miller, who is soon to transition to another commander, acknowledged that any loss of territory has an impact on the overall security in the country. "Because districts start representing key terrain as it relates to the security of the people, of the provincial capitals and certainly security of the capital," he said. Also Read | A year of Hong Kong security law: Crackdown on people and the press The Taliban recently captured a key border crossing with Tajikistan in the north along with other districts surrounding the city of Kunduz, effectively laying a siege to the city. The insurgents have also encircled almost all major cities in the country, raising fears that they would also make a military push to capture Kabul after the US and NATO forces leave. "A military takeover is not in the interest of anyone, certainly not for the people of Afghanistan," Miller said, adding that the overall security situation was "not good". "That's something that's recognised by the Afghan security forces and they are making the appropriate adjustments as we move forward," he said. Faced with the Taliban's blistering assault, the Afghan interior ministry said Tuesday it has created a 4,000 member "rapid reaction force" to be led by retired army generals who would fight the Taliban along with regular security forces.

US commmander warns Taliban to stop Afghan offensive or face air strikes

While Washington continues troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, lawmakers in US have demanded answers from the Biden administration on its evacuation plan concerning 18,000 Afghans and&nbsp;their families who had supported the US-led war on terror. 
 
This comes amid reports that Pakistan is supporting the Taliban amass tanks and weapons across the border.

Acting Interior Minister of Afghanistan, Gen&nbsp;Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, has exposed the Pakistani role. Gen&nbsp;Mirzakwal said, "There is also information that the Taliban take some [military]&nbsp;tanks to Pakistan through Zabul province [in southern Afghanistan]. The National Security Council and the Commander in Chief have ordered permanent patrols to target any tank that is tried to be taken to Pakistan.”

His comments were echoed by other senior officials of the Afghan security establishment who claim to have seen proof of Pakistani involvement. Head of the independent directorate of local governance Shamim Khan Katawazai claimed, "They [Taliban]&nbsp;have taken military equipment owned by security forces across the Durand line. There are evidence and footage about this. Pakistani soldiers have clicked photos with them.”

The alarm raised by Afghan security establishment comes at a time when Afghan forces are engaged in fierce fighting with the Taliban in many parts of the country. The militant group has captured tanks and&nbsp;weapons as it continues to run over districts, bases and&nbsp;government held positions.

Meanwhile former US National Security Adviser John Bolton revealed that&nbsp;over the last two decades, Islamabad has provided a safe haven to Taliban fighters. Bolton, who served as the US National Security Adviser under Trump, also slammed Pakistan for helping the Taliban stage attacks on Afghan and&nbsp;US troops.

Bolton has warned Islamabad against playing with fire, "Parts of the Pakistani government are directly responsible for the Taliban’s return to power. If the Taliban seizes the power in Afghanistan, it will also be a threat to Pakistan as the extremist pressure on the Pakistani government will increase.”

The reports coming out of Afghanistan are alarming. They follow a US intelligence report, which warned that the government in Kabul could fall to the Taliban in six months following the US troop withdrawal.

While the Biden administration has committed to a complete US troop withdrawal by September 11&nbsp;this year, there is no concrete plan yet to evacuate the 18,000 Afghans who have applied for a Special Immigration Visa (SIV). These are drivers, navigators and&nbsp;interpreters who helped American troops in the war on terror. Lawmakers are demanding answers from Biden on how his government plans to evacuate these Afghans and&nbsp;53,000 family members.

Biden last week said Afghans who helped American troops won't be left behind, but US lawmakers are demanding a concrete evacuation plan. Some have even suggested Guam as a possible destination for these Afghans.

The process of evacuation of 70,000+ people will take time, but with only 75 days left to the September 11 deadline, time is a luxury these Afghans don't have.

Senator Angus King warned, "The Taliban has made no secret of the fact that they [Afghans who helped US troops]&nbsp;are in grave danger. They have already started killing them. If we leave without providing for the safety of those people, providing them a way to maintain their lives, it will be a stain on this country that will exist for generations."

Chris Purdy from Veterans for American Ideals at Human Rights first asked&nbsp;Biden, "Why did you wait so long? Why wasn't this part of the plan for the withdrawal? That's just a question that weighs on a lot of us in this community. We’ve been saying this for the last four months."

While Washington continues troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, lawmakers in US have demanded answers from the Biden administration on its evacuation plan concerning 18,000 Afghans and their families who had supported the US-led war on terror.

While Washington continues troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, lawmakers in US have demanded answers from the Biden administration on its evacuation plan concerning 18,000 Afghans and their families who had supported the US-led war on terror. This comes amid reports that Pakistan is supporting the Taliban amass tanks and weapons across the border. Acting Interior Minister of Afghanistan, Gen Abdul Sattar Mirzakwal, has exposed the Pakistani role. Gen Mirzakwal said, "There is also information that the Taliban take some [military] tanks to Pakistan through Zabul province [in southern Afghanistan]. The National Security Council and the Commander in Chief have ordered permanent patrols to target any tank that is tried to be taken to Pakistan.” His comments were echoed by other senior officials of the Afghan security establishment who claim to have seen proof of Pakistani involvement. Head of the independent directorate of local governance Shamim Khan Katawazai claimed, "They [Taliban] have taken military equipment owned by security forces across the Durand line. There are evidence and footage about this. Pakistani soldiers have clicked photos with them.” The alarm raised by Afghan security establishment comes at a time when Afghan forces are engaged in fierce fighting with the Taliban in many parts of the country. The militant group has captured tanks and weapons as it continues to run over districts, bases and government held positions. Meanwhile former US National Security Adviser John Bolton revealed that over the last two decades, Islamabad has provided a safe haven to Taliban fighters. Bolton, who served as the US National Security Adviser under Trump, also slammed Pakistan for helping the Taliban stage attacks on Afghan and US troops. Bolton has warned Islamabad against playing with fire, "Parts of the Pakistani government are directly responsible for the Taliban’s return to power. If the Taliban seizes the power in Afghanistan, it will also be a threat to Pakistan as the extremist pressure on the Pakistani government will increase.” The reports coming out of Afghanistan are alarming. They follow a US intelligence report, which warned that the government in Kabul could fall to the Taliban in six months following the US troop withdrawal. While the Biden administration has committed to a complete US troop withdrawal by September 11 this year, there is no concrete plan yet to evacuate the 18,000 Afghans who have applied for a Special Immigration Visa (SIV). These are drivers, navigators and interpreters who helped American troops in the war on terror. Lawmakers are demanding answers from Biden on how his government plans to evacuate these Afghans and 53,000 family members. Biden last week said Afghans who helped American troops won't be left behind, but US lawmakers are demanding a concrete evacuation plan. Some have even suggested Guam as a possible destination for these Afghans. The process of evacuation of 70,000+ people will take time, but with only 75 days left to the September 11 deadline, time is a luxury these Afghans don't have. Senator Angus King warned, "The Taliban has made no secret of the fact that they [Afghans who helped US troops] are in grave danger. They have already started killing them. If we leave without providing for the safety of those people, providing them a way to maintain their lives, it will be a stain on this country that will exist for generations." Chris Purdy from Veterans for American Ideals at Human Rights first asked Biden, "Why did you wait so long? Why wasn't this part of the plan for the withdrawal? That's just a question that weighs on a lot of us in this community. We’ve been saying this for the last four months."

Pakistan is helping Taliban gather tanks across border, claims Afghan interior minister

About 5,000&nbsp;Afghan&nbsp;families have fled their homes in Kunduz after days of&nbsp;fighting&nbsp;between the Taliban and government forces, officials said Saturday, with the insurgents continuing to surround the key&nbsp;northern&nbsp;city.

The Taliban briefly seized the&nbsp;city&nbsp;twice in recent years but have now captured the surrounding districts and a nearby border crossing with Tajikistan.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-makes-further-inroads-in-northern-afghanistan-seizes-border-port-with-tajikistan-393655">Taliban makes further inroads in northern Afghanistan, seizes border port with Tajikistan</a>

"About 5,000 families have been&nbsp;displaced&nbsp;by the&nbsp;fighting," Ghulam Sakhi Rasouli, director of the Kunduz Refugees and Repatriation Department, told AFP.

He said up to 2,000 of those families had fled to Kabul and other provinces.

Many people took refuge in a school in the&nbsp;city&nbsp;and had been provided with food and other relief items, Kunduz provincial council member Ghulam Rabbani Rabbani said.

Video footage taken by AFP showed dozens of people, many of them women and children, sitting inside tents set up in a school compound.

"We are six families living together here for three days... you can see my children are sitting on the ground," Juma Khan, who fled with his family, told AFP.

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"We have still not received any help. A team came today to survey some families but after a few minutes they left," said Akhtar Mohammad, who has also taken refuge in the school.

Another 8,000 families have been&nbsp;displaced&nbsp;across the province of Kunduz following a month of sporadic clashes between the insurgents and government forces, Rasouli added.

He said authorities were unable to provide relief items to all the&nbsp;displaced&nbsp;families across the province.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-peace-talks-should-go-on-unless-taliban-pull-out-abdullah-394131">Afghanistan peace talks should go on unless Taliban pull out: Abdullah</a>

Kunduz&nbsp;city's public health director Ehsanullah Fazli said that since the&nbsp;fighting&nbsp;erupted more than a week ago, 29 civilians have been killed and 225 wounded.

Fighting&nbsp;has raged across Kunduz province for days, with the Taliban and&nbsp;Afghan&nbsp;forces engaged in bloody battles.

On Tuesday the insurgents captured Shir Khan Bandar, Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan, in one of their most significant gains in recent months.

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Since early May, the Taliban have launched several major offensives targeting government forces across the rugged countryside and say they have seized nearly 90 of the country's more than 400 districts.

Many of their claims are disputed by the government and difficult to independently verify.

Violence surged after the US military began the withdrawal of its last remaining 2,500 troops from the country to meet the September 11 deadline announced by President Joe Biden to end America's longest war.

Peace talks between the two warring sides remain deadlocked in Qatar.

About 5,000 Afghan families have fled their homes in Kunduz after days of fighting between the Taliban and government forces, officials said Saturday, with the insurgents continuing to surround the key northern city.

About 5,000 Afghan families have fled their homes in Kunduz after days of fighting between the Taliban and government forces, officials said Saturday, with the insurgents continuing to surround the key northern city. The Taliban briefly seized the city twice in recent years but have now captured the surrounding districts and a nearby border crossing with Tajikistan. Also read | Taliban makes further inroads in northern Afghanistan, seizes border port with Tajikistan "About 5,000 families have been displaced by the fighting," Ghulam Sakhi Rasouli, director of the Kunduz Refugees and Repatriation Department, told AFP. He said up to 2,000 of those families had fled to Kabul and other provinces. Many people took refuge in a school in the city and had been provided with food and other relief items, Kunduz provincial council member Ghulam Rabbani Rabbani said. Video footage taken by AFP showed dozens of people, many of them women and children, sitting inside tents set up in a school compound. "We are six families living together here for three days... you can see my children are sitting on the ground," Juma Khan, who fled with his family, told AFP. "We have still not received any help. A team came today to survey some families but after a few minutes they left," said Akhtar Mohammad, who has also taken refuge in the school. Another 8,000 families have been displaced across the province of Kunduz following a month of sporadic clashes between the insurgents and government forces, Rasouli added. He said authorities were unable to provide relief items to all the displaced families across the province. Also read | Afghanistan peace talks should go on unless Taliban pull out: Abdullah Kunduz city's public health director Ehsanullah Fazli said that since the fighting erupted more than a week ago, 29 civilians have been killed and 225 wounded. Fighting has raged across Kunduz province for days, with the Taliban and Afghan forces engaged in bloody battles. On Tuesday the insurgents captured Shir Khan Bandar, Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan, in one of their most significant gains in recent months. Since early May, the Taliban have launched several major offensives targeting government forces across the rugged countryside and say they have seized nearly 90 of the country's more than 400 districts. Many of their claims are disputed by the government and difficult to independently verify. Violence surged after the US military began the withdrawal of its last remaining 2,500 troops from the country to meet the September 11 deadline announced by President Joe Biden to end America's longest war. Peace talks between the two warring sides remain deadlocked in Qatar.

Thousands displaced by fighting around northern Afghan city

The Taliban is gaining ground across key districts in Afghanistan while the US is moving ahead with the pullback of the military forces from Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan drawdown: Challenges ahead of Afghan government

Abdullah Abdullah, the chief of Afghanistan's peace council said on Friday that talks with Taliban on political settlement should not be abandoned despite Taliban attacks unless the insurgents themselves pull out. The talks have been long-stalled.

“I think we shouldn’t shut the door unless it’s completely shut by the Taliban,” Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, told Reuters in an interview. “We can’t say no to talks despite a lack of progress or in spite of what’s happening on the ground.”

He spoke after he accompanied Afghan Prsident Ashraf Ghani as they met US President Joe Biden at White House. The talks remained focussed on US military and civilian aid and issues stemming from the departure of the last U.S. troops nearly 20 years after the U.S.-led invasion.

Biden told Ghani and Abdullah that “Afghans are going to have to decide their future” and the “senseless violence has to stop.”

The fighting, however, has raised grave doubts about long-stalled US-backed peace negotiations between the insurgents and a delegation that includes government officials that began in Doha under the Trump administration in 2020.

Abdullah said there was “perhaps more optimism” about a peace deal when the negotiations began because “the Taliban said things to different interlocutors that created optimism.”

Still, Abdullah said, the talks should not be abandoned.

“Eventually, the last man killed will not be a solution,” he said. “There has to be a peaceful settlement.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Abdullah Abdullah, the chief of Afghanistan's peace council said on Friday that talks with Taliban on political settlement should not be abandoned despite Taliban attacks unless the insurgents themselves pull out.

Abdullah Abdullah, the chief of Afghanistan's peace council said on Friday that talks with Taliban on political settlement should not be abandoned despite Taliban attacks unless the insurgents themselves pull out. The talks have been long-stalled. “I think we shouldn’t shut the door unless it’s completely shut by the Taliban,” Abdullah Abdullah, chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation, told Reuters in an interview. “We can’t say no to talks despite a lack of progress or in spite of what’s happening on the ground.” He spoke after he accompanied Afghan Prsident Ashraf Ghani as they met US President Joe Biden at White House. The talks remained focussed on US military and civilian aid and issues stemming from the departure of the last U.S. troops nearly 20 years after the U.S.-led invasion. Biden told Ghani and Abdullah that “Afghans are going to have to decide their future” and the “senseless violence has to stop.” The fighting, however, has raised grave doubts about long-stalled US-backed peace negotiations between the insurgents and a delegation that includes government officials that began in Doha under the Trump administration in 2020. Abdullah said there was “perhaps more optimism” about a peace deal when the negotiations began because “the Taliban said things to different interlocutors that created optimism.” Still, Abdullah said, the talks should not be abandoned. “Eventually, the last man killed will not be a solution,” he said. “There has to be a peaceful settlement.” (With inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan peace talks should go on unless Taliban pull out: Abdullah

A report claims that India told the Taliban to not support "militant elements who are anti-India" in Afghanistan. What was the Taliban's response? What did the Taliban say about Pakistan? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Taliban confirms meeting with Indian delegation

Afghan forces on Friday retook control of six districts from the Taliban, reported Tolo News. As per the report, the districts include Andkhoi and Khan Chahar Bagh in Faryab, Khinjan and Doshi in Baghlan, and Ahmad Aba and Sayed Karam in Paktia.

The news report quoted sources to say that three districts fell to Taliban. These are Khost Firing and Guzargah-e-Noor in Baghlan and Dolina in Ghor

Afghanistan has seen increase in violence unprecedented in recent times. This has come just as the US is pulling all its forces from the war-torn nation.

"The enemy has no longer a line. They suffered massive casualties and were pushed back," said Abdul Basir Salangi, a senior adviser to High Council for National Reconciliation, who has gone to Salang district in Parwan to support security forces.

"All resources are available. The security forces have enough strength. What we need is a high morale and strong determination. Our security forces are ready to fight the enemy," said MP Sadiq Qaderi.

On Friday, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani reached US. He was due to meet US President Joe Biden.

The Taliban have made advances in Afghanistan. There are reports of dozens of districts falling into their hands. Taliban already control Afghanistan's border crossing with Tajikistan.

Meanwhile, the US State Department has said that Washington was assessing to find out whether the Taliban is willing to end the conflict through a diplomatic solution or insists on the military takeover of Afghanistan.

"We`re looking very carefully at the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, and we`re also looking very hard at whether the Taliban is at all serious about a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We continue to be engaged on diplomacy, but actions that would try to take the country by force are of course totally inconsistent with finding a peaceful resolution," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

(With inputs from agencies)

Afghan forces on Friday retook control of six districts from the Taliban, reported Tolo News. As per the report, the districts include Andkhoi and Khan Chahar Bagh in Faryab, Khinjan and Doshi in Baghlan, and Ahmad Aba and Sayed Karam in Paktia.

Afghan forces on Friday retook control of six districts from the Taliban, reported Tolo News. As per the report, the districts include Andkhoi and Khan Chahar Bagh in Faryab, Khinjan and Doshi in Baghlan, and Ahmad Aba and Sayed Karam in Paktia. The news report quoted sources to say that three districts fell to Taliban. These are Khost Firing and Guzargah-e-Noor in Baghlan and Dolina in Ghor Afghanistan has seen increase in violence unprecedented in recent times. This has come just as the US is pulling all its forces from the war-torn nation. "The enemy has no longer a line. They suffered massive casualties and were pushed back," said Abdul Basir Salangi, a senior adviser to High Council for National Reconciliation, who has gone to Salang district in Parwan to support security forces. "All resources are available. The security forces have enough strength. What we need is a high morale and strong determination. Our security forces are ready to fight the enemy," said MP Sadiq Qaderi. On Friday, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani reached US. He was due to meet US President Joe Biden. The Taliban have made advances in Afghanistan. There are reports of dozens of districts falling into their hands. Taliban already control Afghanistan's border crossing with Tajikistan. Meanwhile, the US State Department has said that Washington was assessing to find out whether the Taliban is willing to end the conflict through a diplomatic solution or insists on the military takeover of Afghanistan. "We`re looking very carefully at the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, and we`re also looking very hard at whether the Taliban is at all serious about a peaceful resolution to the conflict. We continue to be engaged on diplomacy, but actions that would try to take the country by force are of course totally inconsistent with finding a peaceful resolution," said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban loses control of 6 districts to Afghan forces: Report

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in USA on Friday. He is accompanied by Abdullah Abdullah who leads the High Council for National Reconciliation. Ghani is slated to meet US President Joe Biden. The meet comes even as the US is in process of withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan. Ghani said that he respects the 'strategic decision' taken by the US and that it was a 'great pleasure' to be in the US

"It's a great pleasure to be here. The decision of President Biden has been a 'Strategic Decision'. We respect that decision. It's dealing with the new chapter of our friendship, our strategic relationship and our people-to-people relationship and government to government relationship that we are focused. Our discussions have been productive and we look very much forward to the culminating decision in meeting with the president today," said Ghani.

Violence in Afghanistan is on the rise ever since the announcement and commencement of US withdrawal. Taliban has been reported to be in control of dozens of districts.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talibans-actions-inconsistent-with-establishing-peace-in-afghanistan-blinken-393956">Taliban's actions 'inconsistent' with establishing peace in Afghanistan: Blinken</a>

Taliban recently captured the border crossing between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The northern city of Kunduz is expecting an encirclement and siege by the Taliban.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that actions of Taliban were<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/talibans-actions-inconsistent-with-establishing-peace-in-afghanistan-blinken-393956"> 'inconsistent' with aim of establishing peace</a> in Afghanistan.

"We`re looking very carefully at the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and were also looking very hard whether the Taliban is at all serious about peaceful resolution of the conflict," Blinken told a news conference in Paris.

"Actions that try to take the country by force, of course, are totally inconsistent with finding a peaceful resolution," Blinken added.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in USA on Friday. He is accompanied by Abdullah Abdullah who leads the High Council for National Reconciliation. Ghani is slated to meet US President Joe Biden.

Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in USA on Friday. He is accompanied by Abdullah Abdullah who leads the High Council for National Reconciliation. Ghani is slated to meet US President Joe Biden. The meet comes even as the US is in process of withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan. Ghani said that he respects the 'strategic decision' taken by the US and that it was a 'great pleasure' to be in the US "It's a great pleasure to be here. The decision of President Biden has been a 'Strategic Decision'. We respect that decision. It's dealing with the new chapter of our friendship, our strategic relationship and our people-to-people relationship and government to government relationship that we are focused. Our discussions have been productive and we look very much forward to the culminating decision in meeting with the president today," said Ghani. Violence in Afghanistan is on the rise ever since the announcement and commencement of US withdrawal. Taliban has been reported to be in control of dozens of districts. Also Read | Taliban's actions 'inconsistent' with establishing peace in Afghanistan: Blinken Taliban recently captured the border crossing between Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The northern city of Kunduz is expecting an encirclement and siege by the Taliban. On Friday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that actions of Taliban were 'inconsistent' with aim of establishing peace in Afghanistan. "We`re looking very carefully at the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and were also looking very hard whether the Taliban is at all serious about peaceful resolution of the conflict," Blinken told a news conference in Paris. "Actions that try to take the country by force, of course, are totally inconsistent with finding a peaceful resolution," Blinken added.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani reaches US, to meet Biden soon 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken unequivocally said on Friday that Taliban's actions are not helping establish peace in war-torn Afghanistan. While speaking at a news conference in Paris, he said that actions of taking the country by force were "inconsistent" with the goal of establishing peace in the country.

"We`re looking very carefully at the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and were also looking very hard whether the Taliban is at all serious about peaceful resolution of the conflict," Blinken told a joint news conference with his French counterpart.

"Actions that try to take the country by force, of course, are totally inconsistent with finding a peaceful resolution," Blinken added.

The US is currently in the process of withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan bringing an end to the war that spanned two decades. However, fears of Taliban takeover have risen because of increased violence in the country.

Earlier this week, Talliban captured Afghanistan border-crossing with Tajikistan. The terrorist group has also surrounded Kunduz, a city in northern Afghanistan. The residents fear a siege by Taliban. Afghan government forces are present in the city and reinforcements have come as well. The situation remains grim.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken unequivocally said on Friday that Taliban's actions are not helping establish peace in war-torn Afghanistan. While speaking at a news conference in Paris, he said that actions of taking the country by force were "inconsistent" with the goal of establishing peace in the country.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken unequivocally said on Friday that Taliban's actions are not helping establish peace in war-torn Afghanistan. While speaking at a news conference in Paris, he said that actions of taking the country by force were "inconsistent" with the goal of establishing peace in the country. "We`re looking very carefully at the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and were also looking very hard whether the Taliban is at all serious about peaceful resolution of the conflict," Blinken told a joint news conference with his French counterpart. "Actions that try to take the country by force, of course, are totally inconsistent with finding a peaceful resolution," Blinken added. The US is currently in the process of withdrawing all troops from Afghanistan bringing an end to the war that spanned two decades. However, fears of Taliban takeover have risen because of increased violence in the country. Earlier this week, Talliban captured Afghanistan border-crossing with Tajikistan. The terrorist group has also surrounded Kunduz, a city in northern Afghanistan. The residents fear a siege by Taliban. Afghan government forces are present in the city and reinforcements have come as well. The situation remains grim. (With inputs from agencies)

Taliban's actions 'inconsistent' with establishing peace in Afghanistan: Blinken

According to reports, the Biden administration is preparing to relocate thousands of Afghan coalition aides to third nations to keep them safe from the Taliban while they wait for the US to approve visas for them and their families.

US to relocate Afghan coalition aides as they fear reprisal from Taliban

Joe Biden will be meeting Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani in Washington on Friday(25 June) amid an ongoing US military withdrawal and Taliban resurgence.

Afghan President to meet Joe Biden amid rise in Taliban attacks

Afghanistan's envoy to India Farid Mamundzay has said that India can send the "right message" to the Taliban to cut ties with international and regional terror groups. The comments come in the backdrop of unconfirmed reports of India and the Taliban engaging in parleys.&nbsp;Neither side has acknowledged this.

Speaking to &nbsp;WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Mamundzay said, "should those messages be communicated to the Taliban...it would have a very positive impact on our security. "

Earlier this week, a Qatari official confirmed that Indian delegation met the Taliban in Doha. The development comes as US forces leave the country after 2 decades that many see changed the regional security situation. The Afghan envoy also dismissed reports of the Taliban toppling the Afghan government as reported in western media.&nbsp;

Wion: Reports suggest Kabul will fall, also increased violence level with Taliban gaining control in the north. Your reaction.

Ambassador Farid Mamundzay: The reports which have been published don't fully describe the strength of Afghan national defense and security forces. Our forces are in full control of the country. Yes, the situation is intense in the number of districts and number of provinces but our soldiers, our police officers, our intelligence officers are doing everything they can to secure and keep our people safe. I disagree with the fact that the Taliban would be in a position to take over Afghanistan or topple our government in 6 months' time. The resilience of the Afghan security forces and the determination of the Afghan public, in general, is there to combat terrorist groups in whatever way and form they may be to keep Afghanistan free and safe.

Wion: How do you see the reports of India-Taliban talks. This is what Qatar is also confirming.

Ambassador Farid Mamundzay: We can't verify that, we don't certify that there has been an engagement between the Taliban and the Indian government. Within the Taliban, the nationalist elements, who could be integrated back to Afghan society, forces and people that could be engaged, with whom we believe that talks would be fruitful. The right message, from strategic partners like India, could very helpful. The right message is to cut ties with international and regional terrorist groups. The right message could be to integrate back to Afghan society and become part of mainstream life and politics in the country and let violence go. A recent United Nations Security Council report suggests the Taliban still keeps ties with international terrorist organizations, which is something of concern to us. We would not want foreign fighters on our soil and should those messages be communicated to the Taliban, should they get those messages it would have a very positive impact on our security.&nbsp;

Wion: How do you see India-Afghanistan engagement, at a time when American troops are leaving?&nbsp;

Ambassador Farid Mamundzay: New Delhi has always been a very important partner and we would want this partnership to flourish, to grow more in the years to come. The UN and NATO were here for a specific purpose, that was to combat the international terrorist groups but we are going to remain in this region forever. India's contribution has been phenomenal in every area in Afghanistan. There is a special place in the heart of every Afghan and we would want India to remain, being a key contributor to the development of Afghanistan in every area.&nbsp;

Afghanistan's envoy to India Farid Mamundzay has said that India can send the "right message" to the Taliban to cut ties with international and regional terror groups.

Afghanistan's envoy to India Farid Mamundzay has said that India can send the "right message" to the Taliban to cut ties with international and regional terror groups. The comments come in the backdrop of unconfirmed reports of India and the Taliban engaging in parleys. Neither side has acknowledged this. Speaking to WION's Principal Diplomatic Correspondent Sidhant Sibal, Mamundzay said, "should those messages be communicated to the Taliban...it would have a very positive impact on our security. " Earlier this week, a Qatari official confirmed that Indian delegation met the Taliban in Doha. The development comes as US forces leave the country after 2 decades that many see changed the regional security situation. The Afghan envoy also dismissed reports of the Taliban toppling the Afghan government as reported in western media. Wion: Reports suggest Kabul will fall, also increased violence level with Taliban gaining control in the north. Your reaction. Ambassador Farid Mamundzay: The reports which have been published don't fully describe the strength of Afghan national defense and security forces. Our forces are in full control of the country. Yes, the situation is intense in the number of districts and number of provinces but our soldiers, our police officers, our intelligence officers are doing everything they can to secure and keep our people safe. I disagree with the fact that the Taliban would be in a position to take over Afghanistan or topple our government in 6 months' time. The resilience of the Afghan security forces and the determination of the Afghan public, in general, is there to combat terrorist groups in whatever way and form they may be to keep Afghanistan free and safe. Wion: How do you see the reports of India-Taliban talks. This is what Qatar is also confirming. Ambassador Farid Mamundzay: We can't verify that, we don't certify that there has been an engagement between the Taliban and the Indian government. Within the Taliban, the nationalist elements, who could be integrated back to Afghan society, forces and people that could be engaged, with whom we believe that talks would be fruitful. The right message, from strategic partners like India, could very helpful. The right message is to cut ties with international and regional terrorist groups. The right message could be to integrate back to Afghan society and become part of mainstream life and politics in the country and let violence go. A recent United Nations Security Council report suggests the Taliban still keeps ties with international terrorist organizations, which is something of concern to us. We would not want foreign fighters on our soil and should those messages be communicated to the Taliban, should they get those messages it would have a very positive impact on our security. Wion: How do you see India-Afghanistan engagement, at a time when American troops are leaving? Ambassador Farid Mamundzay: New Delhi has always been a very important partner and we would want this partnership to flourish, to grow more in the years to come. The UN and NATO were here for a specific purpose, that was to combat the international terrorist groups but we are going to remain in this region forever. India's contribution has been phenomenal in every area in Afghanistan. There is a special place in the heart of every Afghan and we would want India to remain, being a key contributor to the development of Afghanistan in every area.

India can send 'right message' to Taliban to cut ties with international terror groups: Afghan envoy Mamundzay

A Qatari envoy has confirmed 'quiet talks' between India and the Taliban in Doha. What are India's options while dealing with the Taliban? Have the insurgents changed after 20 years in the wilderness? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Qatari envoy confirms India-Taliban talks

Districts in Afghanistan are falling without a fight. The Taliban is taking control of more territory, while Afghan soldiers on the ground are surrendering. Palki Sharma brings you five videos that show how the Taliban is taking control of Afghanistan.

Gravitas: 5 videos that show how the Taliban is taking control of Afghanistan

The United States has slowed down the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan. However, Washington is certain that the pullout will be done by the deadline. These developments have created an uncertain situation in Kabul. WION's Principal Correspondent Sidhant Sibal talks with Afghan Envoy to India, Farid Mamundzay on the several ifs and buts regarding US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Afghan Envoy: Don't agree that Taliban will takeover or topple govt

The Pentagon said on Monday that it would complete its full withdrawal by September 11, but the pace of the pullout could be slowed given the Taliban's gains.

US watching Taliban gains as it leaves Afghanistan

There was fear in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz as residents prepared for a siege by Taliban. The insurgents have surrounded Kunduz. Government forces are patrolling the streets.

Taliban have held Kunduz twice in recent years. The occupation was brief both times. This time, Taliban have captured the surrounding districts and main border crossing with Tajikistan.

"The Taliban have besieged our city," said Qudratullah, a fruit seller who has done hardly any business since fighting first erupted in Kunduz province two weeks ago.

"Even today there is sporadic fighting on the outskirts of the city," said Qudratullah, who like many Afghans uses only one name.

"If the government does not launch an operation against the Taliban, their siege will continue for a long time."

Most businesses in Kunduz remained shut and vehicles stayed off the roads, an AFP correspondent who toured the city reported.

New government forces were deployed in the city and dozens of military vehicles patrolled the streets. The population of the city has swelled due to an influx of rural residents fleeing fighting in the districts

Troops were seen firing sporadically at Taliban positions, and the bodies of two insurgents lay on the ground on the eastern edge of Kunduz.

The city's public health director told AFP that since the fighting erupted a week ago, 21 civilians have been killed and 225 wounded.

Residents said they were suffering from water and power cuts, and few shops were open.

Kunduz resident Hasib said he feared the Taliban would soon launch a major offensive on the city.

"We don't feel safe... We have seen the Taliban capture the city twice before, and we do not want the city to fall again to them," he said.

"The government forces should break the Taliban siege, if not the Taliban will continue their offensives... and their siege will continue forever."

Fighting has raged across Kunduz province for days, with the Taliban and Afghan forces engaged in bloody battles.

On Tuesday the insurgents captured Shir Khan Bandar, Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan, in one of their most significant gains in recent months.

(With inputs from agencies)

There was fear in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz as residents prepared for a siege by Taliban. The insurgents have surrounded Kunduz. Government forces are patrolling the streets.

There was fear in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz as residents prepared for a siege by Taliban. The insurgents have surrounded Kunduz. Government forces are patrolling the streets. Taliban have held Kunduz twice in recent years. The occupation was brief both times. This time, Taliban have captured the surrounding districts and main border crossing with Tajikistan. "The Taliban have besieged our city," said Qudratullah, a fruit seller who has done hardly any business since fighting first erupted in Kunduz province two weeks ago. "Even today there is sporadic fighting on the outskirts of the city," said Qudratullah, who like many Afghans uses only one name. "If the government does not launch an operation against the Taliban, their siege will continue for a long time." Most businesses in Kunduz remained shut and vehicles stayed off the roads, an AFP correspondent who toured the city reported. New government forces were deployed in the city and dozens of military vehicles patrolled the streets. The population of the city has swelled due to an influx of rural residents fleeing fighting in the districts Troops were seen firing sporadically at Taliban positions, and the bodies of two insurgents lay on the ground on the eastern edge of Kunduz. The city's public health director told AFP that since the fighting erupted a week ago, 21 civilians have been killed and 225 wounded. Residents said they were suffering from water and power cuts, and few shops were open. Kunduz resident Hasib said he feared the Taliban would soon launch a major offensive on the city. "We don't feel safe... We have seen the Taliban capture the city twice before, and we do not want the city to fall again to them," he said. "The government forces should break the Taliban siege, if not the Taliban will continue their offensives... and their siege will continue forever." Fighting has raged across Kunduz province for days, with the Taliban and Afghan forces engaged in bloody battles. On Tuesday the insurgents captured Shir Khan Bandar, Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan, in one of their most significant gains in recent months. (With inputs from agencies)

Fear in northern Afghan city as Taliban lay siege

Kabul could be captured by the Taliban within a year as US forces withdraw from&nbsp;Afghanistan, but its fall is not inevitable and will depend on a much better-run Afghan defence force, US experts say.

As worries mount that the insurgents could retake power in the war-torn country, experts with years of experience in&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;warned that poor leadership, corruption and ethnic divisions in the Afghan security forces offer the Taliban advantages, and that much depends on whether President Ashraf Ghani's troubled government can hold.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-security-forces-eliminate-258-taliban-terrorists-in-last-24-hrs-392487">Afghan security forces eliminate 258 Taliban terrorists in last 24 hrs</a>

The Islamist rebels have taken control of dozens of&nbsp;Afghanistan's 400 districts since the September deadline for withdrawal was set by Washington, where Ghani is set to meet with US counterpart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> at the White House on Friday.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that a new US intelligence report estimates that the Taliban could win control of the country's capital within six to 12 months of the US pullout.

Taliban not unstoppable&nbsp;

"There's really no denying the &nbsp;size and the speed of the kind of territorial losses the government has suffered," Andrew Watkins of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

But "the fall of Kabul is not imminent. The Taliban is not an unstoppable military juggernaut," he said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-watching-taliban-gains-as-it-leaves-afghanistan-393536/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Most of the districts the insurgents have claimed are "out in rural areas of the country that have little strategic or military value. There's no military need for either actor to be out there."

Yet some are on transport routes and around provincial capitals.

"The Taliban are strengthening their chokeholds around major cities. They're not necessarily in the near-term future going to try and take those cities," Watkins said.

Afghan security forces have lost the support of US airstrikes on the Taliban in the past year, and their own air force could be weakened if thousands of US civilian contractors, who keep Afghan aircraft flying, depart by September.

Carter Malkasian, a former Pentagon official and now an&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;security expert at the CNA consultancy, said it is only "remotely possible" that the Taliban sweep into Kabul in the near term.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-captures-afghanistans-main-border-crossing-with-tajikistan-393160">Taliban captures Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan</a>

However, he said, such an outcome is conceivable within a year, as regional capitals are not currently under threat.

"If you see the losses of big cities like Kandahar city or Mazar-i-Sharif, &nbsp;then I would start worrying about Kabul falling," said Malkasian.

Aim to demoralize&nbsp;

James Dobbins, the former US Special Representative for&nbsp;Afghanistan&nbsp;and now an expert at Rand Corporation said he expects the fighting to escalate.

Right now, he said, "the Taliban have certain advantages. But their advantages generally apply in the countryside where their supporters are."&nbsp;

The cities are more of a challenge for the group than when they gained power in 1996: the country is more populous, urbanized, better educated, better connected and more complicated to manage.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-makes-further-inroads-in-northern-afghanistan-seizes-border-port-with-tajikistan-393655">Taliban makes further inroads in northern Afghanistan, seizes border port with Tajikistan</a>

"They don't have many supporters in the cities where all the infrastructure is," he said.

"Kabul is now a city of five million people. It's not what it was the last time the Taliban captured it. And I think they'd have a hard time controlling it."

Watkins said the Afghan military is doing what it needs to do, shrinking its footprint to focus on defending population centres and major supply arteries.

And a recent shakeup of the leadership could improve its operations.

"The Afghan military has to demonstrate a strength and a resilience that makes the Taliban reconsider trying to take over the country by force," he said.

However, he added, "The territorial losses the Afghan government has suffered are going to wind up having political impact. There is a potential of freaking out everyone, from rank and file Afghan soldiers and policemen . . . all the way up to the highest political level," Watkins said.

Gaining the upper hand

Malkasian said that the Taliban are focused as much on eroding public morale and confidence in the government as they are on gaining the upper hand in negotiations on a future government.

"Ultimately what they want to do is not to have to fight their way tooth and nail to Kabul or to conquer the rest of the country," he said.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/fighting-between-afghan-forces-and-taliban-escalates-393605/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"What they would like to see is for the Afghan government to fall apart, so that they can step into a vacuum."

Malkasian insisted that peace talks are important to the insurgents, to lend them credibility if they do end up assuming power.

"The Taliban do care about international recognition. They do care about receiving future assistance," he noted.

Kabul could be captured by the Taliban within a year as US forces withdraw from Afghanistan, but its fall is not inevitable and will depend on a much better-run Afghan defence force, US experts say.

Kabul could be captured by the Taliban within a year as US forces withdraw from Afghanistan, but its fall is not inevitable and will depend on a much better-run Afghan defence force, US experts say. As worries mount that the insurgents could retake power in the war-torn country, experts with years of experience in Afghanistan warned that poor leadership, corruption and ethnic divisions in the Afghan security forces offer the Taliban advantages, and that much depends on whether President Ashraf Ghani's troubled government can hold. Also read | Afghan security forces eliminate 258 Taliban terrorists in last 24 hrs The Islamist rebels have taken control of dozens of Afghanistan's 400 districts since the September deadline for withdrawal was set by Washington, where Ghani is set to meet with US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House on Friday. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that a new US intelligence report estimates that the Taliban could win control of the country's capital within six to 12 months of the US pullout. Taliban not unstoppable "There's really no denying the size and the speed of the kind of territorial losses the government has suffered," Andrew Watkins of the International Crisis Group told AFP. But "the fall of Kabul is not imminent. The Taliban is not an unstoppable military juggernaut," he said. Most of the districts the insurgents have claimed are "out in rural areas of the country that have little strategic or military value. There's no military need for either actor to be out there." Yet some are on transport routes and around provincial capitals. "The Taliban are strengthening their chokeholds around major cities. They're not necessarily in the near-term future going to try and take those cities," Watkins said. Afghan security forces have lost the support of US airstrikes on the Taliban in the past year, and their own air force could be weakened if thousands of US civilian contractors, who keep Afghan aircraft flying, depart by September. Carter Malkasian, a former Pentagon official and now an Afghanistan security expert at the CNA consultancy, said it is only "remotely possible" that the Taliban sweep into Kabul in the near term. Also read | Taliban captures Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan However, he said, such an outcome is conceivable within a year, as regional capitals are not currently under threat. "If you see the losses of big cities like Kandahar city or Mazar-i-Sharif, then I would start worrying about Kabul falling," said Malkasian. Aim to demoralize James Dobbins, the former US Special Representative for Afghanistan and now an expert at Rand Corporation said he expects the fighting to escalate. Right now, he said, "the Taliban have certain advantages. But their advantages generally apply in the countryside where their supporters are." The cities are more of a challenge for the group than when they gained power in 1996: the country is more populous, urbanized, better educated, better connected and more complicated to manage. Also read | Taliban makes further inroads in northern Afghanistan, seizes border port with Tajikistan "They don't have many supporters in the cities where all the infrastructure is," he said. "Kabul is now a city of five million people. It's not what it was the last time the Taliban captured it. And I think they'd have a hard time controlling it." Watkins said the Afghan military is doing what it needs to do, shrinking its footprint to focus on defending population centres and major supply arteries. And a recent shakeup of the leadership could improve its operations. "The Afghan military has to demonstrate a strength and a resilience that makes the Taliban reconsider trying to take over the country by force," he said. However, he added, "The territorial losses the Afghan government has suffered are going to wind up having political impact. There is a potential of freaking out everyone, from rank and file Afghan soldiers and policemen . . . all the way up to the highest political level," Watkins said. Gaining the upper hand Malkasian said that the Taliban are focused as much on eroding public morale and confidence in the government as they are on gaining the upper hand in negotiations on a future government. "Ultimately what they want to do is not to have to fight their way tooth and nail to Kabul or to conquer the rest of the country," he said. "What they would like to see is for the Afghan government to fall apart, so that they can step into a vacuum." Malkasian insisted that peace talks are important to the insurgents, to lend them credibility if they do end up assuming power. "The Taliban do care about international recognition. They do care about receiving future assistance," he noted.

Taliban takeover of Afghanistan not inevitable: US experts

As a key stakeholder in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, India has been concerned about the post-withdrawal situation and has called for urgent efforts to ensure peace in the region.

'No peace plan presented by Taliban': Afghanistan

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the insurgents had seized the border post, on the south bank of the Pyanj River.

Taliban capture Afghanistan's main Tajikistan border crossing

UN Human Rights Council members hit out at China's record in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet on the second day of its 47th session. As US troops continued to pull out from Afghanistan, the Taliban on Tuesday captured a key&nbsp;border crossing with Tajikistan even as the Pentagon had said a day earlier that it could delay the pullout due to the militant group's continued attacks.

Cuban government announced on Tuesday that&nbsp;its&nbsp;Abdala&nbsp;coronavirus vaccine has shown 92.28 per cent efficacy in the last stage of clinical trials.&nbsp;The government had said earlier announced that its vaccine&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cuba-encouraged-by-early-efficacy-results-of-homegrown-covid-19-vaccine-392671">Soberana 2</a>&nbsp;had achieved 62 per cent efficacy with two or three doses.&nbsp;Meanwhile,&nbsp;Europe's top court on Tuesday said that Google's YouTube and other online platforms are not liable for copyright-infringing works uploaded by users onto their platforms under certain conditions.

Click on headlines to read more

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-human-rights-council-members-question-chinas-record-in-xinjiang-hong-kong-tibet-393172">UN Human Rights Council members question China's record in Xinjiang, Hong Kong &amp; Tibet</a>

<img alt="China" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86e43aec-c6f7-47f8-bec0-0915009531df" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/444.jpg" />

Canadian ambassador Leslie Norton highlighted the deteriorating "fundamental freedoms in&nbsp;Hong Kong" under the national security law and the human rights situation in Tibet.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/taliban-captures-afghanistans-main-border-crossing-with-tajikistan-393160">Taliban captures Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan</a>

<img alt="Taliban" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="255f3c63-bf6d-4cc0-be43-00cbf1047822" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Talib1_1.jpg" />

The&nbsp;Taliban&nbsp;has already claimed to have annexed at least 50 districts since it launched a major offensive last month as the US announced it was pulling out of the country by September 11.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/abdala-vaccine-9228-effective-against-covid-19-says-cuba-393134">Abdala vaccine 92.28% effective against COVID-19, says Cuba</a>

<img alt="Abdala vaccine" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="711e371f-1032-4824-92d4-c2483679b602" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Abdala1.jpg" />

Cuban government had said earlier announced that its vaccine&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cuba-encouraged-by-early-efficacy-results-of-homegrown-covid-19-vaccine-392671">Soberana 2</a>&nbsp;had achieved 62 per cent efficacy with two or three doses.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/eu-top-court-hands-win-to-youtube-in-user-copyright-fight-393109">EU top court hands win to YouTube in user copyright fight</a>

<img alt="YouTube" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="04bb15a2-8f81-4b2e-8328-1a3a7a0f3f4e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/YoU.jpg" />

The case marks the latest development in a long-running battle between Europe's $1 trillion creative industry and online platforms, with the former seeking compensation or action from the latter for unauthorised works that are uploaded.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/people-without-vaccines-will-have-lack-of-job-options-warns-russias-kremlin-393174">People without vaccines will have lack of job options, warns Russia's Kremlin</a>

<img alt="Coronavirus vaccine" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7e302d4c-4344-4c8a-973d-7d505d0b384e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/jabs1.jpg" />

This warning has come a little after the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, warned an alarming increase in number of coronavirus cases in a few regions of Russia

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-drank-bleach-to-cure-covid-claims-man-behind-magic-cure-393147">'Donald Trump drank bleach to cure Covid', claims man behind 'magic cure'</a>

<img alt="Donald Trump" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="15fcffd2-929c-4795-8a24-d6f26560a2af" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Donald1_1.jpg" />

Trump had made the&nbsp;comments on bleach in April when the coronavirus was not only widely spreading across the nation.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crypto-mining-how-does-digital-currency-manufacturing-affect-environment-393162">Crypto mining: How does digital currency manufacturing affect environment?</a>

<h1><img alt="Crypto currency" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="841412b9-ef13-43c3-abf3-694fdb7a085c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Cryto1.jpg" /></h1>

Elon Musk’s Tesla recently stopped the new payment method as he feared crypto mining was negatively affecting the environment.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-the-worlds-happiest-country-is-seeking-migrants-393152">Why the 'world's happiest country' is seeking migrants</a>

<img alt="Finland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="75e63db6-03f7-4939-a085-55105c5a5bd7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Finland1.jpg" />

&nbsp;

In 2009, Finland had 17 per cent of its&nbsp;population aged over 65 which was one the highest in the world.

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bolsonaro-asks-journalist-to-shut-up-for-urging-him-to-keep-mask-on-393127">Bolsonaro asks journalist to 'shut up' for urging him to keep mask on</a>

<img alt="Bolsonaro" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e4834416-1988-407a-8c11-aab313b97ddc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Boli1.jpg" />

"Shut your mouth! You are creeps! You practice rogue journalism, which doesn't help at all. You destroy the Brazilian family, destroy the Brazilian religion!" Bolsonaro lashed out at the reporter after a military ceremony in Guaratingueta, in the state of Sao Paulo.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drinking-coffee-regularly-decreases-chances-of-chronic-liver-diseases-study-393155">Drinking coffee regularly decreases chances of chronic liver diseases: Study</a> 
&nbsp;

<img alt="Coffee beans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="05460c95-c25f-4090-af78-00764d7cecb3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Coff1.jpg" />

It was also observed that regular coffee drinkers had 49 per cent less chance of dying from chronic liver disease, than non-coffee consumers.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

UN Human Rights Council members hit out at China's record in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet on the second day of its 47th session. As US troops continued to pull out from Afghanistan, the Taliban on Tuesday captured a key border crossing with Tajikistan even as the Pentagon had said a day earlier that it could delay the pullout due to the militant group's continued attacks.

UN Human Rights Council members hit out at China's record in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet on the second day of its 47th session. As US troops continued to pull out from Afghanistan, the Taliban on Tuesday captured a key border crossing with Tajikistan even as the Pentagon had said a day earlier that it could delay the pullout due to the militant group's continued attacks. Cuban government announced on Tuesday that its Abdala coronavirus vaccine has shown 92.28 per cent efficacy in the last stage of clinical trials. The government had said earlier announced that its vaccine Soberana 2 had achieved 62 per cent efficacy with two or three doses. Meanwhile, Europe's top court on Tuesday said that Google's YouTube and other online platforms are not liable for copyright-infringing works uploaded by users onto their platforms under certain conditions. Click on headlines to read more UN Human Rights Council members question China's record in Xinjiang, Hong Kong & Tibet Canadian ambassador Leslie Norton highlighted the deteriorating "fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong" under the national security law and the human rights situation in Tibet. Taliban captures Afghanistan's main border crossing with Tajikistan The Taliban has already claimed to have annexed at least 50 districts since it launched a major offensive last month as the US announced it was pulling out of the country by September 11. Abdala vaccine 92.28% effective against COVID-19, says Cuba Cuban government had said earlier announced that its vaccine Soberana 2 had achieved 62 per cent efficacy with two or three doses. EU top court hands win to YouTube in user copyright fight The case marks the latest development in a long-running battle between Europe's $1 trillion creative industry and online platforms, with the former seeking compensation or action from the latter for unauthorised works that are uploaded. People without vaccines will have lack of job options, warns Russia's Kremlin This warning has come a little after the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, warned an alarming increase in number of coronavirus cases in a few regions of Russia 'Donald Trump drank bleach to cure Covid', claims man behind 'magic cure' Trump had made the comments on bleach in April when the coronavirus was not only widely spreading across the nation. Crypto mining: How does digital currency manufacturing affect environment? Elon Musk’s Tesla recently stopped the new payment method as he feared crypto mining was negatively affecting the environment. Why the 'world's happiest country' is seeking migrants In 2009, Finland had 17 per cent of its population aged over 65 which was one the highest in the world. Bolsonaro asks journalist to 'shut up' for urging him to keep mask on "Shut your mouth! You are creeps! You practice rogue journalism, which doesn't help at all. You destroy the Brazilian family, destroy the Brazilian religion!" Bolsonaro lashed out at the reporter after a military ceremony in Guaratingueta, in the state of Sao Paulo. Drinking coffee regularly decreases chances of chronic liver diseases: Study It was also observed that regular coffee drinkers had 49 per cent less chance of dying from chronic liver disease, than non-coffee consumers.

Top 10 world news: UN Human Rights Council hits out at China, Taliban captures border crossing with Tajikistan & more

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