Taliban continued its recent offensive in Afganistan with the capture of another province on Monday. This follows a series of recent blitz that has seen the outfit grab more and more territory in the region.
Taliban’s pursuit has intensified after U.S and NATO forces began their withdrawal from Afganistan.
The insurgents have overrun five provincial capitals across the north, sparking fears the government is rapidly losing control of the region.
They have also taken Zaranj, capital of Nimroz province, in the southwest.
No bloodshed.
The fighters entered Aibak without a fight after community elders pleaded with officials to spare the city from more violence following weeks of clashes on the outskirts, said Sefatullah Samangani, deputy governor of Samangan province.
Several pro-government local militia commanders also surrendered to the Taliban without a fight, allowing the insurgents to gain control of the entire province,
The city of Sar-e Pul joins three other provincial capitals now fully under Taliban control: Zaranj, the capital of western Nimroz province, the city of Shibirghan, the capital of northern Zawzjan province, and Taleqan, the capital of another northern province with the same name.