The Taliban, Rejoicing that they have “won” the Americans, they are preparing the ground to regain control of Afghanistan and restore their status. “These arrogant Americans believed they could eliminate the Taliban,” said Mullah Misbah, a rebel commander in Ghazni province in central Afghanistan, which has been destroyed by the conflicts, reports APE.
“But the Taliban have defeated the Americans and their allies. “And, if Allah wills, an Islamic regime will be restored in Afghanistan when the Americans leave.” Talks between the Taliban and Kabul, which began in Qatar in September, have reached a stalemate. Meanwhile, the guerrillas are taking advantage of the withdrawal of American forces to gain ground.
Since the beginning of the new phase of their operations in early May, they have taken control of at least 30 regions out of a total of 400. US-provided air support to the Afghan army is now scarce, making it difficult to supply many its advanced positions surrounded by the Taliban. As a result, many troops are leaving their positions, especially in the countryside. The Taliban have taken control of two districts in Ghazni, a key province between two major highways connecting Kabul with Kandahar, the country’s second largest city. Rebels now have a presence in almost all provinces and surround many large cities. A worrying strategy, which they had followed in the 1990s, thanks to which they managed to take control of almost all of Afghanistan and establish their regime.
“The government will not stand”
Many fear that they are preparing a major offensive against the cities after the withdrawal of Americans and other foreign forces from the country. The Afghan government assures that the army is capable of repelling them, citing their weaknesses: a lack of heavy weapons and the ability to withstand the blows of the Afghan air force. But Mullah Misbach is not worried. For him, the Taliban are the ones who will be defeated as soon as the international troops complete their withdrawal, which is scheduled to be completed by September 11th. “Once the Americans leave, (the government) will not last even five days,” he said.
“Once their masters are defeated, the slaves will no longer be able to fight the Islamic Emirate,” he added. According to a Taliban spokesman in Peshawar, Pakistan, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the future of the war will be decided at the official level. “It is normal for military commanders to want to use violence,” he said. “But decisions are taken from above (…) by the board of governors. And the fighters obey. “
Education from the Red Cross
Behind the front, the Taliban control the areas they control. Mullah Misbah has been running a clinic occupied by the Taliban for the past two years, with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), through the Red Crescent. The locals receive treatment and medicine there. The wounded Taliban are also being transported there. The clinic also provides first aid courses, taught by ICRC staff who also train Afghan forces in Ghazni, according to the organisation’s charter of neutrality.
“The Islamic Emirate does not have many wounded fighters, most of the patients are civilians who have been injured by enemy airstrikes,” the mullah said, without elaborating on his allegations. Both the Taliban and the Afghan army often exaggerate the number of casualties on the opposing side and accuse each other of targeting civilians. The growing guerrilla presence near Ghazni raises fears of an attack on the provincial capital of the same name.
This had already happened in 2018, with the city’s central market being destroyed and many civilians being killed. “The Taliban are very close to the city,” said Ahmad Rahim, a trader. “There is no security here,” he complains. Ghazni remains alive, with its markets and traffic jams on the streets. But as soon as night falls, most shops close and the sound of bombing can be heard in the distance. “Soon Afghans will be able to live free and happy,” said Kari Hafizullah Hamdan, a Taliban commander in the vicinity of Karabakh.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
