Kabul: The Taliban seized a regional hub city, Zaranj, in the western Afghanistan on Friday, a significant blow to a government desperately defending cities against insurgents. Officials confirmed that this is the first provincial capital to fall to the insurgency since the Biden administration announced the full withdrawal of U.S. troops.
The Deputy Governor, Roh Gul Khairzad said that “the city of Zaranj, provincial capital of Nimroz, has fallen to the Taliban”. The Taliban have besieged a host of such cities for weeks. Therefore, the fall of Zaranj, the provincial capital of Nimruz Province on the borders of Afghanistan-Iran is Taliban’s first breakthrough.
Rohs Ul Khairad, the Deputy Governor of Nimruz, and Hajji Baz Mohammad Naser, the head of the provincial council also confirmed the collapse of Zaranj at the hands of insurgents. Hajji Baz confirmed that the Taliban has issued pictures where they have captured vehicles paid by the Americans and NATO countries taken by the Afghan forces; they’re now using them to patrol on the streets of Zaranj.
Earlier, militants warned of mare attacks targeting Afghan government leaders. In the latest series of assignation, Taliban gunmen also killed Dawa Khan Menapal, the head of the government’s media and information center. Days before, Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi also dodged an assassination attempt.