Islamic Armed Group Taliban Takes Control of Afghanistan
Capital Kabul Falls and Government Collapse Imminent
Rush to Escape Kabul Airport
US Embassy and Major Countries' Embassies Also Evacuate
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The pro-American Afghan government is facing collapse due to a full-scale offensive by the Islamic militant group Taliban.
After seizing all major cities within Afghan territory, the Taliban began entering the capital Kabul on the 15th (local time). The fall of Kabul appears to be imminent.
Residents of Kabul have fallen into a state of panic, and crowds are flocking to the international airport to escape abroad.
Embassies of various countries on site are also hastily evacuating in a state of confusion. The U.S. Embassy has begun a full withdrawal, and U.S. President Joe Biden has approved the deployment of 5,000 U.S. troops to support this.
Taking advantage of the U.S. military withdrawal, the Taliban launched a large-scale offensive and succeeded in effectively seizing all major cities outside Kabul on this day.
According to foreign media including the AP on the 15th (local time), following the capture of Mazar-i-Sharif (the capital of Balkh Province), the largest city in northern Afghanistan, on the previous night, the Taliban took control of Jalalabad (capital of Nangarhar Province) to the east adjacent to Kabul and Maydan Wardak (capital of Maydan Wardak Province) to the west on this day.
Mazar-i-Sharif, with a population of 500,000, and Jalalabad, with 350,000 residents, are the fourth and sixth largest cities in Afghanistan, respectively.
With the fall of Mazar-i-Sharif, the entire northern region has fallen into the hands of the anti-government forces.
Also, with the collapse of Jalalabad and Maydan Wardak, the eastern and western defensive walls of Kabul have been breached.
The southern city of Kandahar and the western city of Herat, the second and third largest cities in Afghanistan, were captured by the Taliban on the 12th.
Additionally, the AP reported that the Taliban completely took control of all border checkpoints on this day.
The Taliban advanced to the Logar Province area, 11 km south of Kabul, and fought government forces before entering Kabul on this day.
Foreign media including the AP cited officials and residents reporting the Taliban's entry into Kabul. However, it is known that no fighting has occurred yet.
Regarding this, the leader of the Taliban's political office in Doha, Qatar, which serves as their external liaison, reportedly issued orders to "not use violence in Kabul city and allow safe passage for those wishing to escape," according to major foreign media.
The AP also reported that the Taliban had taken control of several other cities the previous day, including Asadabad (capital of Kunar Province) in the east, Gardez (capital of Paktia Province), Maimana (capital of Faryab Province) in the north, and Nili (capital of Daikundi Province) in the central region, in addition to Mazar-i-Sharif.
Summarizing foreign reports, the Taliban currently appears to have seized more than 27 of Afghanistan's 34 provincial capitals.
As a result, the local community in Kabul has fallen into panic.
According to foreign media, as the Taliban's attack loomed, crowds flocked to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul to escape abroad.
Currently, the east, west, and south sides of Kabul are all blocked, and if the Taliban continue their offensive at this pace, it may only be a matter of time before the remaining roads are also blocked.
If this happens, the airport will be the only remaining route out of Kabul.
With the situation turning urgent, some residents with financial means are rushing to the airport to purchase airline tickets.
According to the AP, long lines have formed at ticket sales counters set up in the parking lot outside the airport terminal.
International flights of local airlines such as Ariana Afghan Airlines and Kam Air are reportedly fully booked through next week.
As the government faces collapse, Kabul residents have also been seen rushing to withdraw cash alongside hoarding U.S. dollars.
Afghan Tolo News reported that Kabul banks were crowded with people trying to obtain dollars the previous day.
As a result, the Afghani/dollar exchange rate rose from 80 Afghanis last week to 100 Afghanis.
Residents, fearing sudden bank closures, also lined up at ATMs.
Amid this chaos, the number of refugees flooding into Kabul is also increasing.
The NGO Save the Children recently stated that about 120,000 refugees have arrived in Kabul, of whom approximately 72,000 are children.
Kabul covers an area of 1,028 km², about twice the size of Seoul (605 km²), and has a population of about 4.6 million.
The U.S. Embassy has also begun its withdrawal.
An official familiar with the matter told major foreign media, "A small number of personnel are currently leaving the embassy, and the majority of staff are also preparing to leave," adding, "The embassy continues to function."
U.S. diplomats are reportedly destroying sensitive documents and materials.
President Biden announced the previous day that he would deploy 5,000 U.S. troops, 1,000 more than originally planned, to ensure the safe reduction of U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.
These troops will carry out missions to safely reduce U.S. embassy staff and allied personnel on site and assist in evacuating locals who helped the U.S. during the Afghan war.
The U.S. government announced on the 12th that it would significantly reduce embassy staff and deploy 3,000 U.S. troops to Hamid Karzai International Airport to assist.
This was an announcement to add 3,000 troops in addition to the 1,000 previously reserved for this mission, and on this day, President Biden declared an additional 1,000 troops would be added.
Some U.S. Marines arrived in Kabul on this day, with an advance party having arrived the day before.
President Biden conveyed to the Taliban that any actions endangering U.S. personnel and missions would face swift and strong military responses.
At the same time, President Biden reaffirmed the withdrawal policy, stating, "Endless U.S. presence in another country's internal affairs is unacceptable."
The British government is also reportedly planning to evacuate its ambassador to Afghanistan, Laurie Bristow, by the evening of the 16th.
The British Foreign Office had planned to keep Ambassador Bristow and some officials at the airport to conduct evacuation operations until the end of this month, but changed the plan due to the deteriorating situation.
The British Embassy stated that as of this day, the number of British diplomats and government officials stationed in Afghanistan has been reduced from the original 500 to just a few dozen.
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