How is the Taliban gaining so fast in Afghanistan? – By Jen Kirby (VOX) / Aug 11 2021
An expert on the Taliban’s sweep and what it means for Afghanistan.
The Taliban is rapidly overrunning large parts of Afghanistan.
Over the past few days, Taliban fighters have reportedly taken over nine provincial capitals. The siege comes after a relentless, monthslong offensive in the country that has stretched Afghan government forces. Since the US began withdrawing its troops from the country at the start of May, the Taliban has swept through about half of Afghanistan’s 400 districts.
It is an unsettling situation as the US ends its 20-year war in Afghanistan. So much is still uncertain about the country’s future, except that the fighting and humanitarian catastrophe will continue.
But the US’s long-advertised departure cannot fully explain how and why the Taliban is gaining so fast, or why Afghan forces are retreating in many areas.
CONTINUE > https://www.vox.com/22618215/afghanistan-news-taliban-advance
