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Taliban seize at least six districts in past 24 hours: Sources
Taliban have seized control of six district centers – in Takhar, Kapisa, Balkh, Samangan, Ghazni, and Kandahar provinces – in the past 24 hours, local sources told Ariana News.
According to the sources, Farkhar district in Takhar, Alasay in Kapisa, Kaldar in Balkh, Feroz Nakhchir in Samangan, Gelan in Ghazni and Khakrez in Kandahar province fell to the Taliban in this time.
Kaldar, in Balkh, fell to the Taliban last week but Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) in cooperation with local uprising forces, led by the province’s former governor, Atta Mohammad Noor, regained control of the district on Tuesday, but on Wednesday, the Taliban released a video claiming the group had recaptured the district center.
Fawad Aman, deputy spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said early Wednesday the ANDSF had pushed back the Taliban in many areas across the country.
“We have captured many areas and have launched heavy attacks on the enemy,” said Aman.
Local sources, meanwhile, told Ariana News that Taliban have also recaptured Mirzaka district in Paktia, Dawlat Abad in Faryab, Shortepa and Kaldar in Balkh, Chah Ab, and Hazar Smoch in Takhar and Tala wa Barfak in Baghlan.
“Seven out of 14 districts are under Taliban control in the province,” said Shafiqullah Ahadi, an activist in Baghlan.
Sources in Takhar, and Badakhshan provinces also said that the security situation had deteriorated in their provinces.
“Taliban have surrounded Takhar province, but operations have not started so far,” said Sayed Sayyed Salahuddin Burhani a member of Takhar provincial council.
“Taliban attempt to seize more areas,” said Ziaullhaq, an MP.
In addition, the Taliban has also reportedly seized control of Khakrez district in Kandahar province and heavy clashes are ongoing in Grishk, Garmsir, Marjah, Nad Ali, and Nawa districts of Hemand province, as well as in the provincial capital Lashkhargah.
“Taliban want to capture districts, and Lashkargah city will also fall if government does not help,” said Attaullah Haq Bayan, head of Helmand provincial council.
Afghan Commandos meanwhile have retaken control of the Imam Sahib Port in Kunduz after the Taliban seized the port last week.
Abdul Hadi Nazari, spokesman for the 217th Pamir Military Corps, said at least 13 Taliban had been killed in the operation.
The Taliban has not yet commented.
Hekmat Hajiev, Special Assistant to Azerbaijan’s President, says Azerbaijan and Afghanistan share longstanding historical, cultural, and traditional ties, as both countries seek to expand cooperation in several sectors.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum in Baku on Friday, Hajiev said Azerbaijan’s embassy in Kabul remains “fully operational” at ambassadorial level.
“There is historical, cultural and traditional relationship between our countries and between our peoples,” he said.
Hajiev also referred to the visit of Azerbaijan’s deputy prime minister to Kabul last year, saying the trip focused on reviewing opportunities for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
“We see a lot of prospects for cooperation between our countries and most importantly people-to-people contacts as well,” he added.
The Azerbaijani presidential aide further noted that many Afghan students are currently studying in Azerbaijan and described the education sector as an area with “great potential” for future cooperation.
Mirdif Al-Qashouti, Qatar’s ambassador to Afghanistan, has pledged comprehensive support for the restoration and preservation of Afghanistan’s historical manuscripts and archival documents during a visit to the National Archive in Kabul.
The visit took place on Thursday at the National Archive of the Ministry of Information and Culture, where Afghan officials highlighted the historical importance of the institution’s collections.
Obaidullah Hanif, head of the National Archive, said the institution holds a rich collection of historical documents, manuscripts, and cultural artifacts, many of which require urgent restoration and preservation work.
Hanif called for greater cooperation and assistance from relevant institutions to help protect Afghanistan’s historical heritage.
During the visit, the Qatari ambassador toured different sections of the archive and received detailed briefings from technical staff about the historical records and artifacts kept at the facility.
Officials from both Afghanistan and Qatar also emphasized the importance of continuing bilateral cultural cooperation.
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs says it has summoned representatives of travel agencies over allegations of illegally issuing work visas to Turkey and other countries through black market networks.
According to the ministry, company officials were asked to provide written commitments stating that they would no longer collect money from people under the pretext of obtaining work visas and would fully cooperate with authorities in investigating public complaints.
The ministry also warned the companies against engaging in any illegal activities related to overseas employment visas and said action would be taken against violators.
At the same time, citizens were urged not to fall victim to fraud or false promises and to avoid handing over money or personal documents to unauthorized individuals or companies claiming to arrange foreign work visas.
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