Taliban acquires Afghanistan’s Sheberghan, second provincial capital

"The (government) forces and officials have retreated to the airport," Jawzjan deputy governor Qader Malia told AFP.

Kabul: As the war between Taliban and Afghanistan ensued, the Taliban on Saturday captured Sheberghan city in Jawzjan. Sheberghan became the second Afghan provincial capital to fall to the insurgents in less than 24 hours, the deputy governor said.

"The (government) forces and officials have retreated to the airport," Jawzjan deputy governor Qader Malia was quoted by AFP.

The city homes notorious warlord Abdul Rashid Dostum, who only returned this week to Afghanistan from medical treatment in Turkey.

Vast parts of rural Afghanistan have been acquired by Taliban since launching a series of offensives in May to coincide with the start of the final withdrawal of foreign troops in the country.

Yesterday, on Friday, Nimroz’s Zaranj city fell at the hands of the Taliban "without a fight", according to its deputy governor, becoming the first provincial capital to be acquired by the insurgents.

There was more resistance in Sheberghan, several sources told AFP, but an aide to Dostum confirmed the city had been taken.

(With inputs from agency) 

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