Timeline of U.S. war in Afghanistan as Taliban fighters capture eighth provincial capital in six days
Record ID:
1631873
Timeline of U.S. war in Afghanistan as Taliban fighters capture eighth provincial capital in six days
- Title: Timeline of U.S. war in Afghanistan as Taliban fighters capture eighth provincial capital in six days
- Date: 11th August 2021
- Summary: The 2014 presidential election was locked in the bitter contest between candidates Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah. Abdullah's support is mainly in the north, among the Tajik minority, while Ghani is supported by Pashtun tribes in the east and south. U.S. State Secretary John Kerry convinced the two feuding candidates to agree to a total recount of April's presidential election, which threatened to split the country along ethnic lines and sign a deal to share power, ending months of turmoil over a disputed election that destabilised the country. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - APRIL 5, 2014) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ASHRAF GHANI PUTTING HIS BALLOT INTO THE BOX PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ABDULLAH ABDULLAH PUTTING HIS BALLOT IN THE BOX KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (FILE - JULY 12, 2014) (REUTERS) UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, AFGHAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ABDULLAH ABDULLAH AND ASHRAF GHANI SHAKING HANDS AND HUGGING AND RAISING THEIR HANDS UP TOGETHER ON THE PODIUM
- Embargoed: 25th August 2021 08:48
- Keywords: Afghan President Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani Barack Obama Bush Donald Trump George W ISAF Joe Biden NATO Northern Alliance Sept. 11 Taliban U.S. U.S. President U.S. troops insurgency military violence war withdrawal
- Location: KABUL, BAGRAM, KANDAHAR, BAGRAM AIR BASE, KUNDUZ, TALEQAN, TAKHAR, AFGHANISTAN / BONN, GERMANY / WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES /DOHA, QATAR
- City: KABUL, BAGRAM, KANDAHAR, BAGRAM AIR BASE, KUNDUZ, TALEQAN, TAKHAR, AFGHANISTAN / BONN, GERMANY / WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES /DOHA, QATAR
- Country: Various
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA008EPUQ3WN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Taliban fighters took control of another city in northern Afghanistan on Wednesday (August 11), an official said, the eighth provincial capital to fall to the insurgents in six days as U.S.-led foreign forces complete their withdrawal.
The Taliban capture of Faizabad - the capital of the northeastern province of Badakhshan - came as President Ashraf Ghani landed in Mazar-i-Sharif to rally its defenders as Taliban forces closed in on the biggest city in the north.
After a long battle in Faizabad, government forces retreated to a neighboring district, Jawad Mujadidi, a provincial council member from Badakhshan, told Reuters.
He said Taliban fighters had taken most of the province and laid siege to Faizabad before launching an offensive on Tuesday (August 10).
Taliban forces now control 65% of Afghanistan, have taken or threaten to take 11 provincial capitals, and seek to deprive Kabul of its traditional support from national forces in the north, a senior European Union official said on Tuesday.
U.S. President Joe Biden urged Afghan leaders to fight for their homeland, saying on Tuesday he did not regret his decision to withdraw, noting that the United States had spent more than $1 trillion over 20 years and lost thousands of troops. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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