A lighting offensive by the Taliban which began in May has seen the group take control of vast swathes of rural Afghanistan and battle their way to the doorstep of major cities such as Kandahar, Herat and Kabul - with attacks on them expected soon
* US and NATO forces are preparing to leave Afghanistan on September 11 after two decades in the country
* Comes amid Taliban fight-back against the government that has seen jihadists capture swathes of territory
* Terrorists now at the gates of major cities and are expected to attack soon in a bloody summer offensive
* Government forces are in disarray, with Prime Minister forced to reach out to warlords to bolster his armies
* Country now teetering on brink of civil war similar to 1990s conflict that brought the Taliban to power
From Afghanistan's southern badlands of Helmand and Kandahar to the country's northern border with Tajikistan, the Taliban are on the march.
In a lightning offensive which started in May as US and NATO forces withdraw from the country, the terror group and its jihadist fighters have captured vast swathes of rural hinterland - bringing them to the doorstep of major cities such as Herat and Kabul, with an offensive on them expected this summer.
If they emerge from the carnage victorious - and US intelligence warned earlier this week that they well might - then it would hand the terror group control of the country in what one observer said would be 'the greatest jihadist victory since the Soviets quit in 1989.'
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WNU Editor: The Taliban are boasting that they actually control 80% of the country .... Taliban say they hold 80 per cent of Afghanistan as US announces 650 troops will remain after withdrawal (ABC News).
Afghanistan War News Updates -- June 25, 2021
Even the Taliban are surprised at how fast they're advancing in Afghanistan -- NBC
US launches drone strikes in Afghanistan ahead of Biden's meeting with Ghani, defense official says -- FOX News
Taliban gains drive Afghanistan gov’t to arm local volunteers -- Al Jazeera
Taliban’s deputy emir issues guidance for governance in newly seized territory -- Long War Journal
Taliban says has right to react if US troops stay in Afghanistan -- Al Jazeera
