www.aljazeera.com
Taliban captures second Afghan provincial capital in 24 hours
Deputy governor says Taliban captures Sheberghan, less than a day after taking over the city of Zaranj.
International
The Taliban has captured the city of Sheberghan, the second Afghan provincial capital to fall to the armed group in less than 24 hours, the city’s deputy governor said.
Qader Malia, the deputy governor of Sheberghan in Jawzjan province, said on Saturday that government forces and officials had retreated to the airport on the outskirts of the northern Afghan city, where they were preparing to defend themselves.
“The city has unfortunately fallen completely,” Malia told AFP news agency. “The [government] forces and officials have retreated to the airport.”
Al Jazeera’s Charlotte Bellis, reporting from the Afghan capital Kabul, said the situation on the ground is nuanced and fluid.
“The Taliban put out a statement saying they have taken the city of Sherbegan and therefore the province of Jawzjan. They said this happened earlier this afternoon,” Bellis said.
“The government is denying the Taliban have a taken full control of the city. The ministry of interior have told us they are going to launch a counter-offensive, that they are sending reinforcement, special forces and have started air strikes,” Bellis added.