The United Nations has warned that Taliban fighters have captured dozens of districts in Afghanistan as they ramp up attacks ahead of the complete withdrawal of foreign troops.
Since May, the insurgents have taken over more than 50 of the 370 districts, according to UN special envoy Deborah Lyons, who warned of “dangerous situations.”
Increasing war, she continued, “means increased insecurity for many other countries, both close and far.”
The United States and NATO are still aiming for a total troop withdrawal by September 11th.
However, in light of recent Taliban victories, the Pentagon has stated that the pullout schedule may vary.
Ms Lyons told the UN Security Council that the hardline Islamist group’s latest gains were the consequence of a “intensified military effort.”
“Those districts that have been captured surround provincial capitals, implying that the Taliban are positioning themselves to try to take these capitals after international forces have departed completely.”
Officials say the Taliban also took control of Afghanistan’s main border crossing with Tajikistan on Tuesday. The bridge is located in Kunduz, a northern province where combat has erupted in recent days.
Taliban fighters claim control of the entire region, with the government retaining only control of the provincial capital, also known as Kunduz. However, the Afghan defense ministry in Kabul announced that Afghan forces had regained certain districts and that operations were still underway.
Kunduz is a strategically important city that was briefly captured by militants in 2015 and again a year later, before being recaptured by Nato-backed government forces both times.
According to local media, the Taliban have also seized substantial amounts of military equipment and murdered, maimed, or kidnapped hundreds of soldiers. The number of casualties suffered by the group is unknown.
Afghan security forces have said that they will begin a huge operation to retake the city.
